Brodie Grundy's move to Melbourne appears imminent, with Melbourne's current ruckman and captain Max Gawn reportedly heading the case to bring the 28-year-old across from Collingwood.
Speaking on SEN Breakfast, Garry Lyon revealed that Gawn has been in contact with Grundy, who was sidelined for the majority of the 2022 season with ankle and knee injuries.
“I am told that Max Gawn is driving this as aggressive as anyone, which is making Brodie feel very comfortable,” Lyon said.
“He’s the one that has put Brodie’s mind at rest as to how it could work and the role that he’s prepared to play to make it work.”
The Demons' pursuit of Grundy comes as Luke Jackson, who has served in tandem with Gawn for the past three seasons, is all but certain to depart the club after requesting a trade back to his home state of Western Australia.
Grundy, who was seen alongside Gawn as the game’s top ruckman across the 2018-19 seasons, signed a mammoth seven-year contract with the Pies during the 2020 season.
That deal now looks set to go down, with Craig McRae and his staff preferring the duo of Darcy Cameron and Maxon Cox going forward.
With two legitimate number one ruckmen set to be playing at Melbourne in 2023, Lyon floated the possibility of the Demons unfurling an unconventional ruck operation.
“I think it opens the door to look at the non-traditional ruck role. Max is absolutely pushing as hard as anyone to get Brodie Grundy,” he added.
The Age reported on Tuesday that Grundy is expected to take a minor pay cut when he officially joins Melbourne, with the Demons prepared to cover the lions share of the remainder of the initial seven-year deal, which still has five years left to run.