He has been hailed as the shrewdest piece of business the Swans have done for years, but can ruck Brodie Grundy deliver a premiership to the Swans?
There aren’t many children who grow up dreaming of playing in the ruck in the AFL. It is a position that is often assumed rather than demanded, picked primarily on size and strength. The role is physically relentless and unglamorous, there to build the perfect platform for teammates to get the plaudits.
Pyke played against Grundy during his first two seasons at Collingwood and immediately took notice of his toughness at every contest, refusing to back down from any confrontation. Now safely installed as a spectator, the premiership winner is still impressed with Grundy’s wide arsenal of physical gifts and his ability to demand more from himself in every game for the Swans.
Grundy arrived in Sydney this year eager to prove himself after a tough season at Melbourne, where he struggled to nail down a starting position as ruckman due to the presence of Max Gawn. He was forced to serve an unlikely apprenticeship as a forward, working on a craft he had little natural affinity for. In Sydney, he had a fresh start on and off the field and was recruited solely as a ruck, to do what he does best, win possession of the football against the odds.
“Rucking against Brodie, I always knew that he’s going to be an elite ruckman, and he was for a long period of time and it was just about him getting back to doing what he does best, which is connecting with midfielders and following up and having a real presence around the scramble.”Credit:Grundy’s statistics only tell part of the story of a brilliant season.
“The good part is Pete is there, Lachie McAndrew played a few games last year, and then you’ve got young Will Green, who’s just a sponge and learning and enjoying being on an AFL list for his first year.
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