How will Collingwood use Brodie Grundy once he returns from injury?
Grundy, who has been sidelined with a PCL injury since Round 6, is expected to return in Round 18, according to the club’s latest medical report.
In Grundy’s absence, Darcy Cameron has been in fine form as the Magpies’ number one ruckman, earning a three-year contract extension.
Cameron starred in last week’s win over GWS finishing with 23 hit-outs, 17 disposals, eight marks, six score involvements, five clearances and two goals.
A selection dilemma looms for Collingwood coach Craig McRae.
Former Magpies coach Nathan Buckley discussed the club’s ruck situation and how they could structure up once Grundy returns.
Kane Cornes asked on SEN Mornings: “What do you do when Grundy comes back? This is the elephant in the room at Collingwood.”
Buckley replied: “It is, and it will persist because right now the set-up is working really well and Collingwood are in good form, they’re in really strong form.
“They have a really strong midfield and they’ve got some dynamic scoring youth that’s coming through.
“(Mason) Cox has played better footy. Coxy’s a forward who is a perfect second ruck. So that’s his role.
“Darcy Cameron’s the number one ruckman and Brodie Grundy’s the number ruckman. “If Brodie rucks for 85 per cent of game time and then he rests for the rest of it, that’s OK, then Darcy has to be a 70 per cent forward who rucks for 15 or less.
“But it’s not like Max Gawn and Luke Jackson for instance. Those two guys have both proven they can go forward, that they take marks, they impact as forwards, and they hit the scoreboard. Or they create spills for their ground level players.”
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Buckley admits the “penny hasn’t dropped” for Grundy in terms of playing as a forward.
“Darcy Cameron has done that a little bit,” he said.
“We have tried to play him (Grundy) as a forward … the penny hasn’t dropped yet.
“That doesn’t mean it can’t, but the penny hasn’t dropped yet.
“He’s probably more a free form, likes it through the midfield, creative possession getter than he is the structured, down the line sort of tall forward.
“It’s not as if it hasn’t been attempted, and that doesn’t mean it’s not going to work either because it takes time and things have to come together.
“But right now, Collingwood are looking in shape, in form, roles are established, Darcy Cameron is the number one ruckman and Mason Cox as the forward who pinch hits.
“If and when, and it will happen, Brodie is fit and ready to go, the decision that the coaching staff needs to make is going to be really interesting.”
Grundy, a two-time All-Australian, signed a lucrative seven-year contract with Collingwood in early 2020.