Brodie Grundy is expected to join Melbourne in the upcoming trade period with Collingwood placing a $3.2 million contract back on the table for Jordan De Goey.
The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph reports the Magpies are “expecting” Grundy to end up at the Demons, though the door remains open for both he and De Goey to remain.
The problem is that would make it very difficult for the Magpies to fit all of their outside trade targets – Brisbane tall Dan McStay, GWS small forward Bobby Hill and Adelaide tall Billy Frampton – under the salary cap.
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It has previously been reported the Magpies are willing to pay up to $300,000 a year of Grundy’s existing contract – a $1 million salary until the end of 2027 – to off-load him.
“Melbourne is the raging favourite (for Grundy). The expectation is that they will get there,” Ralph said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
“Collingwood’s position is that they expect him to leave, now if it is that he stays, that’s OK – that may impact some of their other issues trying to get in the likes of (Dan) McStay, Bobby Hill and (Billy) Frampton from Adelaide.
“Those close to him are saying he’s gonna win the Brownlow next year. He’s so determined to play well and yet I think all of us don’t quite see how that fits in with Max Gawn, who’s had two goals in the last eight games as a forward.”
The inability to fit Grundy, De Goey and all of their trade targets under the salary cap has the Magpies in effect choosing between the former two.
De Goey was one of the best players on the ground in Saturday’s qualifying final loss to Geelong and having kept on the straight and narrow since his mid-season trip to Bali, is likely to be rewarded.
“Collingwood will put a four-year deal to Jordan De Goey as early as next week, as soon as they are out of the finals, that will pay him $800,000 a year – as long as he can keep out of trouble,” Ralph said.
“The deal would be the same one withdrawn through the Bali escapades. Two years guaranteed, and then two more years if he meets those strict behavioural criteria.
“He won’t get more than $800,000 a year at Collingwood (as compared to what could be on offer at St Kilda), but he’s desperate to stay and crticially the Collingwood board now has ticked it off.
“Very keen for him to be there as long as those clauses are there – St Kilda still circling.
“I think you back yourself in and you back your own standards in, to get paid a lot of money.”
