Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is reportedly keen to have Brodie Grundy at the club in 2024 and beyond.
SEN’s Tom Morris understands that the Power head coach would like the Melbourne ruckman at Alberton provided a deal can be struck this trade period.
Of course, Hinkley is yet to re-sign with the Power beyond 2023 but it is expected that will happen next month.
Also, South Australian native Grundy is contracted with the Demons until 2027 having crossed from Collingwood late last year.
Morris outlined the situation on SEN Breakfast on Monday morning, indicating that Port would be ready to strike if Grundy does show any indication he wants to leave the Dees.
“This will not come as a huge shock, but my understanding is that Ken Hinkley himself wants Brodie Grundy next year at the club,” Morris said.
“Scott Lycett is out of contract, so there is that room. If Grundy doesn’t get back in (at Melbourne) and play a meaningful role this year, this will reach a head in the trade period in some way.
“Either Brodie Grundy or his manager would speak to the club (Port Adelaide) or the club would speak to him. I can’t imagine the Demons are wanting to move him on, but if Grundy did to Melbourne what Collingwood did to him last year, then there would at least have to be a conversation.
“Port Adelaide would be right at the very front of that queue.”
Port 300-gamer Kane Cornes supports that potential move, but is not quite convinced it will happen.
“Which I love,” he said of the reported pursuit.
“They clearly need a ruck, they’re not the only club. Go in, make your pitch, make it compelling, you’re our guy, you’re our number one ruck, and you’ve got sell that vision like Melbourne did to Grundy to get him from Collingwood.
“But I think to your point, unlikely.”
Nathan Buckley, who coached Grundy at the Magpies, believes it would be a good shift for Grundy and a bargain get for the Power if anything was to come to fruition.
“Melbourne got Brodie Grundy because he needed move, they got him at a lower comparative market price because he needed to move,” said Buckley.
“Does that happen again? Because it sounds like a win-win to me.
“You go to a club that needs a number one ruckman. It works for Brodie Grundy, it works for that club, and it actually works for Melbourne depending on what they get for him.
“By the time he gets to Port Adelaide, when you’re talking about bargains, they’re getting a bargain.”
Grundy was omitted by Simon Goodwin prior to the Brisbane match in Round 18 as the Demons opted to go with captain Max Gawn as the number one ruckman.
The 29-year-old Grundy played in the VFL for the Casey Demons this weekend, picking up 12 disposals, 12 hit-outs and kicking 1.3.
The Dees take on Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.