What does Collingwood do with Brodie Grundy?
The Magpies have won nine matches in a row and as a result find themselves sitting fourth on the ladder.
They’ve done most of it without their $7 million man.
Grundy is nearing a return from the knee injury that has sidelined him since Round 6, with a possible appearance this weekend at either VFL or AFL level on the cards.
In his absence, Darcy Cameron in particular and Mason Cox have performed admirably, contributing greatly to the winning streak.
This provides somewhat of a conundrum at Collingwood and what coach Craig McRae will do with the player who has been considered one of the top few premier ruckmen in the AFL.
Garry Lyon put forward to Tim Watson on SEN Breakfast that perhaps the Magpies will only be a better team with Grundy’s presence.
“There was a creeping assumption while he was out and Collingwood kept winning that they’re going to be better off without him,” Lyon said.
“That Cameron and Cox have consolidated their spot, and then on the weekend, (Essendon’s Sam) Draper I thought, made a mess of both those boys.
“I know it’s all tied up with his seven-year, $7 million (deal), but have we gone too early in just putting a line through Brodie Grundy?
“Could he return and elevate Collingwood even higher?”
Watson replied: “Yeah, he could.
“I think the statistical information that's available supports that as well, because they were better when he was playing, particularly around clearances.
“Am I right in saying that?”
Lyon added: “Well, according to the Herald Sun today, yes.
“I haven't done that homework myself, so that's been lifted straight out of the paper.”
It sparked a discussion on what the Pies may look like with him back and what it means for the trade talk surrounding the two-time All-Australian.
Watson: “I think the question was around freeing up some of that salary cap money, though, wasn't it? That was the argument.”
Lyon: “Always a consideration.
“What you talked about there. This is written by Ronny Lerner. So points from stoppages and points from centre clearances, they were third and fourth while he was playing there.
“Right now, they’re last, but they're still winning.
“The other people would say, ‘well, who cares?’.
“Points from stoppages and points from centre clearances, we may have been third or fourth while he was there. We’re now 18th, but we've won nine in a row and we're paying out a million bucks (per year) for him.”
Watson: “Yeah, but you might be better with him there and that's the point.
“The point about that is, this year if he comes back into the team, and he will, and you'd choose Cameron ahead of Mason Cox, I would think.
“That combination is going to make them a better team than what they currently are.”
Lyon: “So what does Mason Cox do?”
Watson: “Well, he sits it out like he thought he was probably going to be sitting it out at the beginning of the year when Craig McRae kept him on the list but made him no assurances or guarantees about his spot in the team.”
Lyon: “Probably having his best year.”
Watson: “Yeah, he probably is.”
Lyon: “Can you carry three of them?”
Watson: “No, you can’t.”
Lyon: “So you’ve got to get rid of one.
“Get rid of one at the end of the year? Get rid of them off your list?”
Watson: “I think Mason Cox has probably shown enough.
“You've got to have backup players, and it may happen again that they have an injury to one of their key players.
“Keeping him on the list this year was, as it's turned out to be, a stroke of genius.”
Lyon: “If they can offload Brodie Gundy's money, do you think they would?”
Watson: “They would consider that, but I don't think there's anybody out there who could argue successfully that Collingwood are a better team without Brodie Grundy in their team.
“The conversation was always around the length of his contract and the amount of money that he was going to be paid over that period of time.”
Lyon: “The argument or debate is always clouded somewhat by this contract.
“So just take money aside, just push that aside, I know that's a big consideration. You're saying that they're better with him?”
Watson: “100 per cent they are better with him.
“But then if somebody threw it up to you that they would take Brodie Grundy and that money would come off your salary cap and that got you the ability to go out there and purchase somebody or bring somebody into your team that was going to help you in an area that you're currently deficient in, you have to have a look at that as well.”
Lyon: “Is there a club that would take him on five years at five million?”
Watson: “I think there would be a club out there that’s desperate for a ruckman.
“I think Adelaide would probably take him on as a five-year player.
“Port Adelaide. They possibly would have a look at him as well.
“Maybe GWS, although they probably don't have the money in their salary cap.”