“I by no means thought we’d be on this place. That’s in all probability one of many uncomfortable realities that I’ve needed to face, as a result of I believed that chapter was achieved by way of contract stuff.”

Brodie Grundy, a soccer purist, twin finest and fairest, and Collingwood loyalist, was confronted by a sobering reality in final yr’s commerce interval: he was merely a pawn on a black and white chessboard.

At his finest, just a few years earlier, Grundy was the Queen. Protected in any respect prices by the bishops, knights, and pawns round him.

It’s why he penned a seven-year contract price roughly $7 million. Collingwood’s board – which signed off on the monstrous deal – agreed he justified the funding.

In 2018 and 2019 he was the membership’s finest participant and a two-time All-Australian. However by halfway by 2022, Grundy’s worth had diminished. He was nonetheless being paid the identical, however accidents and a lack of kind had severely dented his output.

Collingwood’s lack of religion stung the ruckman: you may inform, watching him clarify his demotion on Stan’s Present Me The Cash documentary.

“You could have what is absolutely pure intent which begins while you stroll within the door,” Grundy mentioned.

“You need to be on a banner and contribute meaningfully to the membership. I needed to play 300 video games for the membership. This yr has f–ked me.”

Brodie Grundy celebrates a objective. (Photograph by Quinn Rooney/Getty Photos)

Those that know him finest say Grundy is an astute man with a sophisticated perspective. A deep thinker, he was by no means afraid to face as much as Nathan Buckley when he felt the previous coach erred. Teammates noticed him as a pacesetter even when he didn’t have the captaincy title.

If he felt burned by the occasions of final October, then he ought to really feel energised by prospects now.

The system. The enterprise. The dog-eat-dog panorama. If it labored in opposition to him in 2022, you guess it could possibly work for him in 2023.

By now aware of footy’s fickleness, Grundy ought to really feel no disgrace in requesting a commerce away from Melbourne if his spot can’t be assured, which it shouldn’t be if the Demons are trustworthy.

The ruck is our sport’s solely actually specialised place, in the identical approach a wicketkeeper is for cricket and a goalkeeper is for soccer. As a lot because the Demons have tried to search out an edge shoehorning two real rucks collectively, there is no such thing as a humiliation in conceding the experiment has failed.

In fact, it might nonetheless work. Publicly, the Dees are saying all the suitable issues. However 13 matches of ‘Gawndy’ plus an acknowledgement from Melbourne footy boss Alan Richardson that Grundy must “develop his ahead craft” within the VFL is as near an admission as a soccer membership is ever possible to present publicly that their grand plan has faltered.

Grundy will not be the All-Australian massive man he was 4 years in the past, however he nonetheless boasts appreciable worth on the open market. Within the chilly gentle of day, alongside his supervisor Robbie D’Orazio, he ought to relish this chance to train that worth.

At 29, it’s going to diminish the longer he waits – simply ask Todd Goldstein and Andrew Gaff.

Golf equipment which might use a confirmed ruck within the premiership window embrace Port Adelaide – which fits him given he’s from South Australia – and Geelong.

There may be additionally the likelihood the talent-laden Port and ageing Cats can nab him for a cut price.

Think about this: Grundy is owed $1 million per yr for the following 4 years.

But when Collingwood is paying $350,000 yearly -as has been reported – and Melbourne chips in $50,000 too, Ken Hinkley or Chris Scott can be a $600,000 ruckman.

This appears about proper for Grundy’s skills – possibly even marginal unders with the following collective bargaining settlement set to ship gamers a big pay rise.

(Photograph by Chris Hyde/Getty Photos)

The Demons, at the moment paying Grundy round $650,000 per yr, might additionally use the cap house to chase a free agent.

They gave up decide 27 for him, however Port’s second rounder, which can find yourself being about decide 40, ought to do the trick – as would a future second rounder from Geelong.

It might go away Gawn with out a longtime understudy once more, identical to when Brayden Preuss got here and went in a jiffy.

That’s additionally okay. Melbourne would be capable of use back-end draft picks and state leagues to scour a worthy second in command, simply as most different golf equipment do, protected within the newfound data that paying massive cash for 2 rucks is a daring, commendable, however basically flawed and – till 2023 at the least – untried premise.

Above all, there may be a whole lot of delight in soccer.

Grundy was compelled to swallow his final October. Now is likely to be the time for Melbourne to comply with go well with.

If issues don’t pan out over the following two months, Grundy becoming a member of a 3rd membership in as a few years could possibly be (don’t say it, don’t say it)… a win-win.

Checkmate.