Darcy Cameron’s emergence as a frontline ruck last season had contributed to the Magpies’ seeking to trade Grundy. The Magpies were also chasing a slew of players, including Daniel McStay,Tom Mitchell and Bobby Hill,and releasing Grundy’s wage helped in these pursuits.
“I think it was right on edge. I think,in the end,Brodie,being contracted,had to agree to go. He is a loyal person,he came there as an 18-year-old and had some unfinished business,to a degree. But the footy landscape is changing,and we are all evolving to a degree,” D’Orazio toldThe Age.
The charismatic Paul Connors has been a powerful player agent for decades.Credit:Stan
“In the end,he comes out happy but,at the time,there were all types of emotions.
“I think it was handled really nicely. Graham Wright is a pro,and has been doing this a long time,too. Once we took the emotion out of it,it was a lot clearer as to what needed to happen. Now in hindsight,and how Brodie is feeling,it was a good move for him.
“Now that he has gone,I think he is realises how much pressure he was under at Collingwood every week. That pressure valve has got released. They are so big,and so powerful,Collingwood,and being on that big contract,there was a pressure release when it was all said and done. It’s actually a nice feeling for him.”
In the documentary,Grundy says it was a challenge dealing with the “uncomfortable reality” that his time as a Magpie was up. It’s also revealed that Gawn has said he will play 70 per cent up forward this year,allowing Grundy to ruck.
Brodie Grundy in Stan’s documentary Show Me The Money II.Credit:Stan
“I never thought I would be in this position. When I signed my contract,you think you are going be a Pie for life. That is the hardest thing,you have what is a pure intent,it really starts when you walk in the door ... I wanted to play 300 games for the Pies,” Grundy says.
However,he adds:“See you Queen’s Birthday”,when a trade looks likely. The Magpies and Demons clash annually on what now is the King’s Birthday weekend.
“In hindsight,you look at what they[Magpies] have gone and done after that. They have gone and spent it[Grundy’s contract]. There was,obviously,an element in[Grundy’s departure]. There were a few reasons around it. The way the ruckman plays,the way Darcy Cameron played,they won when he was injured,” D’Orazio said.
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“You put it into a big pot and stir it up,and it actually came out;‘OK,we can win without Brodie,the ruck space is an interesting space,maybe we can save some money and spend it elsewhere’. In hindsight,it is probably what they have done.
“They go get Mitchell late,they go get Bobby Hill,they get Dan McStay,they get[Billy] Frampton,they have gone and spent the money. In the end,what they got out,they went and spent.”
In what was a frantic trade period,Show Me The Money features several player agents,including Colin Young,Alex McDonald and Paul Connors,amid the wheeling and dealing with clubs.