“They can’t take him back”: Grundy trade shaping as a “disaster” for Magpies, says former recruiter
Brodie Grundy’s mooted trade to Melbourne is turning into a “disaster” for Collingwood, according to former Magpies recruiter Matt Rendell.
Grundy to the Demons is one of more than a dozen trades expected to go through before the deadline on Wednesday night. It’s a move that has been reported for several months, with Collingwood keen to shed the hefty salary of its All-Australian ruckman off the books.
Rendell believes that the Magpies have backed themselves into a corner by doing other deals first and have no choice but to eventually canter to the Demons’ demands.
Melbourne currently has picks 27, 44, 54, 67 and 72 as well as all its future picks and has reportedly offered its first pick this year for Grundy.
“The real interest now is what happens with Grundy,” Rendell told SEN’s Dwayne’s World after Luke Jackson officially joined Fremantle.
“So they’ve got that pick 27, apparently they’re not relenting on that it’s 27 or nothing.
“The biggest problem for Collingwood is they just have to take what Melbourne is going to give them because they can’t take him back.
“They’ve put Dan McStay in, they’ve put Bobby Hill in, and I’ve got a feeling they’ve promised Tom Mitchell (a contract) as well. They can’t take his money back.”
Grundy is seen as Jackson’s successor to partner Max Gawn. The 28-year-old Magpie is contracted until 2027 and Collingwod is understood to be happy to pay up to $300,000 of his annual contract to whichever club picks up the remainder of his deal.
“So he’s going to have to go and Melbourne can dictate the terms on this. They (Collingwood) are not going to get what they wanted and it’s another (salary cap) disaster (for the club),” Rendell continued.
“They’ll get a deal done, but they’ll get screwed over, that’s the problem.”
McStay is reportedly on upwards of $500,000 annually on his new deal at Collingwood, while Mitchell – who is expected to move late in the trade period if at all – also won’t come cheap.
Grundy only managed six games throughout 2022 in what was an injury-interrupted campaign.