BUCKS BACKS RUCK Pies coach says Grundy ready for big test against Eagles’ twin towers

GAME DAY

with two losses.losses Theythey’veve also lost their past four matches against West Coastcoast.

Naitanui has looked impressive in his two games since returning from a knee reconstruction and Hickey is providing solid support.

“He (Naitanui) asks the question, especially when it’s the centre bounce, and even when he plays low game time, he has high impact,” Magies coach Nathan Buckley said.

“I’m sure Brodes would be looking forward to that challenge and Mason (Cox) supporting him.

“We’ll need to stand up in that area, to give our mids some access to the ball. Grundy is well on the way to another All-australian selection,selection but he has not been quite so dominant over the last fortnight.”

Buckley, who criticised Grundy three weeks ago – and then gave him votes in the AFL coaches’ award – said themagpies ruckman sets a high standard for himself.

“We get a bit greedy, don’t we?,” Buckley said of expectations in theaflabout Grundy.

“Brodes’ effort is unquestioned and theway he goes about it is enormous. He wears his heart on his sleeve.

“I have no doubt we’ll get another huge effort from himhim, as we always do.”do”do.

Collingwood legend Tony Shawshaw, meanwhile, says it’s time for American Mason Cox to “Come down to earth”.

The former premiership-winning captain believes the towering key forward has had “toomuch publicity” in the wake of his breakout 2018 season.

Cox was heavily criticised for his performance in last Friday night’s loss to Hawthorn and Buckley, while backing his big man, admitted he has to do better.

“He’s not going to mark everything but we do need him to compete really heavily as we do with all our forwards or our key backs,” Buckley said.