AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich has hailed Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy as the recruit of the year and an All-Australian to this point of the season at Round 14.
Grundy moved to the Swans in October for pick No. 46 and a future second-round selection after spending one year at Melbourne having been traded by Collingwood the year prior.
The ruckman’s addition has no doubt contributed to Sydney’s brilliant start to the year as they sit 12-1 at Round 14 and Grundy was huge in the Swans’ 67-109 win over the Crows on Saturday night as he helped himself to 31 disposals, 49 whiteouts and nine clearances.
Gabelich labelled the 30-year-old as far and away the best player to move clubs during the last trade period and expects him to earn a third All-Australian blazer five years on from his last while playing for Collingwood.
“I’ve been keeping a really close eye on him this year and I think he’s the clear recruit of the year after Round 14,” Gabelich said on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“I think he’s far and away better than any other player that moved clubs in October and I now think that he’s the All-Australian Ruckman.
“Max Gawn clearly had that spot for probably the first 10 to 12 games, but I reckon in the accumulation of what he’s doing and the impact he’s had on Heeney, Warner, Gulden and that midfield … a lot of them are having career years and I think Brodie Grundy is a key reason why.
“He had a dominant performance last night against Adelaide … what he did just sort of summed up his year to date, he was dominant in the air, he was dominant around the ground and he impacted scores.
“I just think he’s been a sensational get. It’s been a long time since we were discussing him as an All-Australian, 2019 was the last time he claimed a blazer.
“The last two years must have been really difficult for him … it’s been really challenging to go from being a star of the competition to playing VFL for much of last year.
“What an acquisition by Kinnear Beatson and the Swans to go and get him … I think he is the All-Australian ruckman right now.”
Premiership Swan Dan Hannebery couldn’t agree more with Gabelich’s opinion as he also feels Grundy has helped the likes of Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner to take huge steps in their career this campaign.
He added that the ruckman is a key reason why the Swans are not only in contention but premiership favourites.
“I couldn’t agree more with you, Josh,” Hannebery added.
“A big part of Warner, Heeney and these players are having such an impact and career years themselves is helped by what Brodie Grundy is doing in the middle of the ground.
“His follow-up work is like an extra midfielder. He taps to a position where they know it’s going to be and they can get really proactive and can get their setups based around that.
“He’s been outstanding and a big reason why their midfield was again on top (against Adelaide).
“He is a massive reason why they are in premiership contention.”
Grundy and the Swans will hope to keep their brilliant form going when they face the Giants at ENGIE Stadium in a local derby next Saturday.