Long-time Collingwood recruiter Matt Rendell has suggested Collingwood should consider trading Brodie Grundy if it gets them in the market for Jeremy Cameron.
Grundy, whose seven-year contract estimated at $1 million per season kicks off in 2021, had a down year for the Magpies, while Cameron looms as the biggest fish in the free agency pool.
Rendell proposed trading Grundy to Sydney, playing Darcy Moore in the ruck and potentially trading Mason Cox if Cameron ends up at the Pies.
“I don’t know if (Collingwood) is in the hunt (for Jeremy Cameron), but they should be,” Rendell told SEN Breakfast.
“They should be into him, but how do they fit him in? I’ve got a little bit of a plan and I say it with a heavy heart, but I would be trading Brodie Grundy to Sydney if I could.
“It’s a good fit for the Swans, they need a ruckman badly. I know what you’re thinking, who is (Collingwood) going to play in the ruck, but I’d play Darcy Moore in the ruck.
“He will win a Brownlow if he plays in the ruck and changing with Mason Cox forward.
“But if they get Jeremy Cameron, I’d be sending Cox to the Western Bulldogs, they’re desperate for a key forward and a ruckman, he can ruck with Tim English.
“I would be playing Moore in the ruck and changing him with Cox if the Jeremy Cameron stuff doesn’t pay off. I know that’s a big call, but I think that’s how you get the deal done and how you get money in your cap.”
Rendell believes the Sydney lifestyle would suit Grundy and mentioned who he would target to replace the former All-Australian on Collingwood’s list.
“I know (they just gave Grundy a seven-year deal), but I think it’s a better fit for him,” he said.
“He loves his study, he’s not a footy-head. I reckon Sydney would suit his lifestyle and they’re desperate for a ruckman.
“They can give up pick four. I think Brodie might be interested in it and I reckon Collingwood would be interested in it, as long as they knew they could get Cameron with that cap space.
“The other thing is I did a study on the rucks for them this time last year because we didn’t know if Brodie was going to stay or go and I gave them a replacement for Grundy and I told them to go chase Sam Hayes at Port Adelaide.
“He’s ready to go coming off a knee. I saw him play at the end of last year, he was very, very good. He plays similar to Brodie, but he’s third in line behind Scott Lycett and Peter Ladhams at Port Adelaide.
“I reckon he would be gettable with one year left on his contract.”