David King has put the spotlight firmly on Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy following his side’s opening-round loss against Western Bulldogs on Friday night.
The Pies were beaten by 16 points in front of over 46,000 people at the MCG, with the match marking Adam Treloar’s first game against his old club after his high-profile exit during last year’s trade period.
Grundy struggled in the ruck and around the ground throughout the clash, worn down by both Tim English and new recruit Stefan Martin.
King said considering Grundy’s new lucrative seven-year contract, there was now a “watch” on how the Pies big man would fare in 2021.
"If you're going to pay someone a million dollars a year, they've got to be the difference in the game. You can't be in question," King said on Fox Footy.
"He was beaten tonight and you can get beaten game-to-game, but this is on watch now. (On Friday night) they were humbled and I think it starts at the coalface.
"You've got to challenge your best players to make a difference and Brodie Grundy, that salary cap squeeze we spoke about last year, it's largely because of contracts like that.
"If you're going to be a senior player demanding that sort of coin then you've got to be the difference. You've got to be a marquee player if you're going to get marquee money."
Grundy found the ball just 11 times during Friday night’s clash, taking three marks and laying three tackles.
