DISCARD GRUNDY READY TO FIRE UP
BRODIE Grundy has opened up on the emotions surrounding his trade from Collingwood to Melbourne, also revealing he needed to remind himself that he remained a quality AFL player after almost a year on the sidelines.
Grundy rejected a suggestion that the Pies’ drive to ship him off with five years remaining on his contract had been a hit to his ego but conceded 2022 had been hard.
The 28-year-old is now looking forward, saying he has recovered from the ankle injury that thwarted his comeback bid late last season and loving his experience at the Demons.
The dual All-Australian and Copeland Trophy winner was on track to be a Pie for life after he signed a seven-year contract extension in early 2020, tying him to the club until the end of 2027. But after a couple of middling seasons, the Pies offloaded Grundy to the Dees, where he joined long-time ruck rival Max Gawn.
Grundy was typically philosophical on the move.
“I acknowledge that it is part and parcel of the industry. It doesn’t make it any easier, but certainly I’d like to think that I can have some perspective in these situations,” he said on Thursday. “I never thought I’d be in this situation, when I signed my long-term deal.”
Grundy said his body was feeling good and that he was excited to be a “role player” at the Dees, although he was coy on exactly what sort of split he would have with Gawn.
“I can’t reveal all my cards at this point. Max is obviously a tremendous figure, not just at Melbourne but in the game,” Grundy said, before adding that he would “absolutely” spend some time forward this year.