Player Watch #4 Brodie Grundy - 250 Games and going strong!!

[Ticky009]

Player Profile:

Experienced ruckman Brodie Grundy

4

Brodie Grundy

Age

32

Ht

202cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.5

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

9.6

5star

CL

4.1

5star

HO

32.0

5star

D

16.4

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

9.6

5star

CL

4.0

5star

HO

34.6

5star

D

13.8

4star

K

5.2

2star

HB

8.6

5star

CL

2.6

5star

HO

20.6

5star

joined the red and white after selection in the 2023 AFL Draft Trade Period. The two-time All Australian arrives having played 194 games across Collingwood and Melbourne and after debuting for Magpies in 2013 has gone on to feature in four finals campaigns, including the 2018 Grand Final. The 29-year-old, who cites Dean Cox

Dean Cox

Age

44

Ht

203cm

Wt

107kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.9

4star

K

8.9

3star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.5

3star

G

0.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

13.0

4star

K

5.8

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.0

1star

as his football icon, will bolster a young side of ruckman in Lachlan McAndrew and Will Green.

DOB: 15/04/1994
Draft: 2012
Recruited From: Melbourne FC

 

[The King!]

Good he got smashed v the Hawks especially .

That is slightly concerning it wasn't carrying a niggle, but good response so far

 

[melbournehammer]

I remain Grundy's biggest critic i suspect. I was not particularly impressed with his first half and he was genuinely lucky with a number of free kicks that werent given against him on the night. His second half was much better. But again he got lucky with a number of frees. he routinely lifts his arms over the shoulders of his opponent when he plays from the side and he steps passed the ball and doesn't make contact often leading to potential frees for blocking in the ruck contest. Because he cant jump everything ends up being a grapple and there is a real question as to whether he can compete without giving away 4-8 frees per game. Its a lot of frees in the centre square

 

[The King!]

Slow start but thought his last few weeks have been excellent. Not saying perfect , we aren't dominating the clearances effectively etc but I think he looks fit again.

Thought Ladhams was a nice tandem with him , but guess that ship has sailed.

IMO we have to manage Brodie through the season and be willing to give him the odd game off and play Ladhams instead.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Slow start but thought his last few weeks have been excellent. Not saying perfect , we aren't dominating the clearances effectively etc but I think he looks fit again.

Thought Ladhams was a nice tandem with him , but guess that ship has sailed.

IMO we have to manage Brodie through the season and be willing to give him the odd game off and play Ladhams instead.

Yep its just the other areas that are the problem now

 

[The King!]

Yep its just the other areas that are the problem now

Yep but in form ruckman is handy

 

[Kbroome]

Wouldn't say we have to give Grundy games off but think against proper dual rucks like Collingwood, Freo, Gold Coast, Richmond, St Kilda he could do with Ladhams there or McLean an increased workload just to give Grundy some rest

 

[MrSwans]

Wouldn't say we have to give Grundy games off but think against proper dual rucks like Collingwood, Freo, Gold Coast, Richmond, St Kilda he could do with Ladhams there or McLean an increased workload just to give Grundy some rest

He seems to perform better and more consistently when he has the backup ruck support. Plus, Ladhams was doing reasonably well until his omission.

 

[Kbroome]

He seems to perform better and more consistently when he has the backup ruck support. Plus, Ladhams was doing reasonably well until his omission.

I think its honestly more that he is just actually 100% fit post bye. Pre the early bye he looked a little off and wasn't at his best but the last 3 games he has statistically (through the player rating {oh no}) been the best rated ruck in the comp. Think he is mostly giving our mids better service which is a big difference to us being even/better in CP.

 

[Cadsky]

Surprise fact of the week. Second most effective ruck in the league

 

[Bonz]

Surprise fact of the week. Second most effective ruck in the league

View attachment 2299703

Our contested game has actually not been as bad as everyone says it has this year, our issue has been consistency, rolling over like my cat when she wants a tummy rub, disposal and connection up forward.

GC - We were well and truly on top in the contest first half, Grundy was a major factor in this
Port - Won contested ball, issue was our disposal and finishing
Coll - Grundy was probably our second best behind Heeney on the day, comfortably beaten.
North - Grundy beat Xerri, our contest game was brilliant all day
Freo - Won the ball around the contest all day and the midfield battle (Grundy was beaten by Jackson but worked well in tandem with Ladhams)
Brisbane - They had us beat around the contest.
Hawthorn - Beaten around the contest.

 

[The King!]

He is moving well, just think we need to chop out a bit more

 

[Callipygian]

Surprise fact of the week. Second most effective ruck in the league

View attachment 2299703

Given that he's attended 180 more ruck contests (73% more) than Luke Jackson I think that makes him the most effective ruck. It's not a coincidence that two of the top three in the list have attended vastly fewer ruck contests (Grundy has contested for a hitout more than both of them combined).

Interesting to see the vaunted Gawn so far down the list. Reminds one that it is not so much for his tapwork that he is so valuable - it's amount of other stuff (marking, goals, leadership etc) that he offers that makes him so good. And he's also shouldering a huge load of ruckwork (over 20% extra compared to Grundy).

 

[Nuggetz]

Unsure if he'll keep up his form but it's been a great start to the season. Surpassed my expectations.

 

[MF]

I wonder if he was carrying a niggle through a the 2nd half of last season, or perhaps just tired. Seems completely re-energised this year.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Surprise fact of the week. Second most effective ruck in the league

View attachment 2299703

Reducing Brody's ToG% to the mid 70s has worked well. Hasn't mattered much (to Brody) whether the relief is Pete or Haydos. Last year he was in the mid-80s which ended up being a disaster.

 

[MrSwans]

Unsure if he'll keep up his form but it's been a great start to the season. Surpassed my expectations.

Kudos to Brodie on a good around the ground performance v the Bombers.

But I question, what would the one thing that a nearly 37 year old, hardly mobile Goldstein want in a midfield ruck battle?

Is there any chance that Grundy (or Cox) could be more strategic and have him run and jump over Goldstein in the centre?

The ruck duels were basically even due Brodie playing a style that suited the aging Goldstein (but strong) with constant wrestling in the centre. Or can't Brodie jump for some reason?

 

[melbournehammer]

Kudos to Brodie on a good around the ground performance v the Bombers.

But I question, what would the one thing that a nearly 37 year old, hardly mobile Goldstein want in a midfield ruck battle?

Is there any chance that Grundy (or Cox) could be more strategic and have him run and jump over Goldstein in the centre?

The ruck duels were basically even due Brodie playing a style that suited the aging Goldstein (but strong) with constant wrestling in the centre. Or can't Brodie jump for some reason?

He can’t jump.

 

[Neverwas]

He can’t jump.

I actually saw him jump yesterday.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Had a good game.

But must have THE most free kicks against of any player in the AFL.

Do we have a ruck coach that knows the rules?

 

[Ticky009]

 

[Cadsky]

When he's on he's one of the best rucks going round. Such a shame his age and body mean that his best and worst are a long way apart and does have the consistency anymore. I do however like the way we're using two rucks and resting him more this season though. Seems to be preserving him a lot better. He was basically spent by this time last season.

 

[Bonz]

I think Grundy is really excelling with having a second ruck currently.

Looks really on top of his game.

I don't hate what Ladhams has bring to the team either this year.

 

[Kiama Chris]

When he's on he's one of the best rucks going round. Such a shame his age and body mean that his best and worst are a long way apart and does have the consistency anymore. I do however like the way we're using two rucks and resting him more this season though. Seems to be preserving him a lot better. He was basically spent by this time last season.

A lot of people were saying that from about August on, through the off-season and right up to now. Last year BG was running 85% ToG, now 75%. It's made a huge difference, regardless of who relieves him, though possibly Ladhams takes more out of his opponents than McLean. Marginal I would think. Just that Ladhams is playing better full stop.

 

[The King!]

Looked awful early then got on with the job and moved well. Still not leaping , but moved well.

But he played against dud rucks the last 2 weeks - old and average.

big test v Gawn

 

[The King!]

Obsessed with wrestling but i thought he was the best on for us by a mile, had to rove himself .