Collingwood football boss Graham Wright says he expects Brodie Grundy to land at the Demons during the trade period following “good” long-term conversations with his management.
Grundy’s uncertain future at the Magpies has been a hot topic over the last several months as the club has explored off-loading his lucrative salary until 2025 to clear cap space
It was reported that the dual All-Australian ruckman’s contract was worth around $7 million when he signed it in 2019.
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Speaking to AFL Trade Radio on Monday, Wright was confident Grundy would become a Melbourne player at some point over the next fortnight.
“We’ve had good conversations with Brodie and his management for a long period of time,” Wright said.
“We suspect that he’s probably going to Melbourne. We’ve had good dialogue with them and we feel that’s where that’ll head.”
It comes after Wright told reporters earlier on Monday that Collingwood was a “fair way down the track” in trade negotiations with Melbourne, revealing the Pies have had “open and honest” conversations with Grundy for 12 months.
Given Collingwood’s eagerness to move on the star ruckman despite likely still contributing towards his salary at Melbourne, the Demons could land him on the cheap – potentially for one of the first-round picks it receives from Fremantle in the Luke Jackson deal.
Wright spoke out on several other key trade items for the Magpies below amid a busy period for the club.
If the Pies will be happy to facilitate an Ollie Henry trade …
“Ollie is out of contract and is a Geelong boy, obviously coming out of Geelong and his brother plays for Geelong.
“We understand there is a pull down the highway but we’d really like to retain him, so that’s where we sit at the moment.”
Jason Horne-Francis requests trade | 00:48
Pursuit of Lions free agent Dan McStay …
“We needed extra key position help, that was the reason to go after Dan. He’s able to play as a key forward but he’s also able to back and pitch in in the ruck. That was the reason, that he can play multiple positions and is a free agent.
“From that perspective it was attractive and we’re pleased that Dan has made the decision to come across.”
If Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell is likely to join Collingwood …
“I think it’s a chance but it’s probably unlikely.
“He’s a Hawthorn player and contracted at Hawthorn. Listening to their comments around him, it’s probably unlikely.
“We’ve got some interest, but it would be less of a priority than other things we’ve got going.”
If Gold Coast’s Brayden Fiorni is a player of interest …
“He is, but same again (as with Mitchell), he’s a contracted player and we have other priorities.
“We’re really keen to lock away what we wanted to in this trade period and we feel like we’re heading towards that with the three players that have initially been linked to us (Hill, McStay and Billy Frampton).
“We’ll get through those and see if there’s anything else out there for us.”
