After an up and down few years, Brodie Grundy has made positive to cease and “scent the roses.”
It’s been an eventful few seasons for the star ruckman together with getting jettisoned from Collingwood halfway by way of a profitable deal, then falling out of favour at Melbourne together with spending elements of final yr within the VFL.
It led to Grundy discovering a 3rd residence within the house of 12 months by becoming a member of the Swans, the place he’s flourishing once more.
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The 30-year outdated’s most up-to-date efficiency – his milestone two hundredth AFL recreation on the weekend – would possibly effectively have been his finest but in his new colors.
Grundy completed with 24 disposals, 15 contested, 29 hit-outs and a career-high 11 tackles as Sydney smashed Gold Coast by 53 factors in a day to rejoice for the crimson and white.
“I bear in mind in my a centesimal recreation I didn’t actually cease and scent the roses,” Grundy instructed Fox Footy post-match.
“Clearly there’s been so much that’s occurred the final 100 (video games). I’m undoubtedly stopping and smelling these roses, that’s for positive.
“It’s been nice, feeling proper at residence and significantly on this floor, the SCG. I’m simply loving my footy and having enjoyable. If I can proceed to try this, I believe I play my finest footy.”
Grundy has been an vital addition for John Longmire’s facet in addressing its ruck downside whereas getting again to a few of his earlier finest All-Australian degree kind.
He’s averaged 19.5 disposals, 5.7 tackles and 27.7 hit-outs from six video games for the 5-1 Swans, who look each bit a flag contender, additionally bolstered by the addition of fellow ex-Magpie Taylor Adams.
As put by Hawks legend Dermott Brereton over the weekend, the AFL world now “get to speak about Grundy’s soccer – not the actual fact he’s not the No. 1 ruck of a group.”
Grundy’s finest second in his milestone match got here within the fourth quarter, with the gun ruckman kicking his first objective for Sydney earlier than being mobbed by teammates in joyous scenes on the SCG.
It was the clear sight of a participant having fun with his footy and in an excellent house each on and off the sphere.
Having such stability is an element Collingwood legend and Grundy’s former coach Nathan Buckley believes usually will get “neglected.”
‘He is [Grundy] fitted in so effectively’ | 09:07
Buckley, who’s beforehand mentioned Grundy embraces being the “alpha,” thinks it’s a key purpose why we’re seeing the very best model of the twin All-Australian once more.
“I’m rapt for ‘Brodes’,” Buckley instructed foxfooty.com.au earlier this month.
“We have a look at all these causes for efficiency and lack there of. Ultimately, in the event you’re completely happy and wholesome and you are feeling like your finest efforts make a distinction the place you’re at, that’s 90 per cent of efficiency.
“I believe Brodie feels wished and wanted and he is aware of his efficiency makes an unlimited distinction to the success of the group. The gamers round him depend on him to do his job for them to have the ability to do theirs. That’s enormously highly effective.
“If Brodie wasn’t doing what he’s doing, Sydney wouldn’t be nearly as good. To be relied upon at that degree is what we’re seeing. He desires to be a giant contributor to efficiency and somebody who’s missed when he’s not there. And he desires to shoulder as a lot of the burden and cargo and accountability and expectation as he probably can and it makes him stronger.
“I believe we’ve seen that in spades already this yr.”
Grundy’s present coach additionally heaped reward on the affect he’s had on the Swans.
“He’s been actual high quality. He offers us a distinct really feel and, on and off the sphere, he’s been unbelievable. He’s actually fitted in so effectively,” Longmire mentioned after Sydney’s win over Gold Coast.
“I assumed he was terrific at present. His presence across the ball, his strain, his 15 contested possessions.
“If he’s placing on monumental strain and he’s staying across the contest, he offers you one other floor degree participant and, at that measurement, that’s so vital. They’ve bought some high quality mids, so he performed a key function for us.”
