Former Port Adelaide midfielder Kane Cornes was highly critical of the seven-year contract Collingwood gave Brodie Grundy in 2019 and now feels it might cost them a star player.
Grundy’s mammoth deal is reportedly worth $1 million per year and runs until the end of the 2027 season.
The ruckman had a season below his lofty standards, missing the All-Australian squad after multiple years in the starting 22.
Cornes wonders what Grundy will look like seven years from now and whether he can possibly live up to the deal.
“It was a ridiculous contract at the time. How could you be confident in a ruckman that has done that much work in the most physical position on the ground in seven years’ time?” he told SEN’s Whateley.
“The contract hasn’t even kicked in yet. People forget this is seven years after this year, that’s what he’s got left.
“I hope that he’s got at least four years back to the level that he was, but you couldn’t be confident in that.
“And the fallout from it is if they lose a Brody Mihocek or a Jordan De Goey or a Darcy Moore, it probably points back to the figure that’s being paid to Grundy.
“At this point, it’s hard to see how that works out in favour of the club.”
Grundy won 20 hit outs and gathered 10 disposals in the Semi Final loss to Geelong, with the Pies giving Darcy Cameron a larger ruck role for the second straight final.