Dees ‘not giving up’ on big-name duo as coach reveals Grundy’s VFL checklist for AFL re-call

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin insists there’s still room for Brodie Grundy in the Demons’ best 22 this year as he revealed the traits the prized recruit had to show at VFL level before reuniting with superstar ruck Max Gawn.

But triple premiership forward Cameron Mooney believes the former Magpie will struggle to quickly pick up the forward craft needed to have an impact for the Demons in 2023.

Grundy, who was traded from Collingwood to Melbourne during the off-season, was sensationally dropped for the Demons’ Friday night clash against the Lions.

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Subsequently, six-time All-Australian Gawn relished the chance to be Melbourne’s sole ruckman and played his best game of the season, booting 1.1 from 29 disposals, 21 contested possessions, 10 clearances, seven tackles and four intercept marks, while 17 of his 39 hit-outs were to advantage in Melbourne’s thrilling one-point win.

The Demons also produced 16.9 (105) — their highest score since Round 7.

Speaking to reporters post-game, Goodwin described Gawn’s game as “sensational”.

Goodwin then confirmed Grundy on Saturday would play a VFL scratch match against St Kilda “purely as a forward” to help him improve his skills inside 50.

“I want to go on the record here and say we love their ruck combination. But one thing we’re not going to do as a footy club is leave any stone unturned in getting better,” Goodwin said.

“We want more impact forward the ball – and the only way we’re going to continue to do that is to expose them for longer. So part of the plan with Brodie is to expose him with VFL footy.

“We think we can turn that combination into a threat moving forward and we’re going to work to do it. And it doesn’t have to be at AFL level. We’re still really confident that’ll work and as we get closer towards the back end of the year, we’re going to need both of them up and going.”

Asked specifically what he’d like to see from Grundy at VFL level, Goodwin said: “It’s a combination … Ability to work and connect with forward line, with each other, ability to hit the scoreboard, ability to compete aerially – and we need both Brodie and Max to be able to do that.”

Goodwin said “I haven’t even considered” the prospect of Grundy not returning for finals, nor the fact he’d left the bold selection move too late in the season.

“He’s an important part of our footy club, not only for the short term but the long term. He’s a big part of us moving forward,” he said.

“We’re not going to sit here and say we’re the finished product. Part of getting towards that is continuing to find ways to improve and part of that is evolving Brodie’s forward craft and Max’s at times.”

Asked how Grundy took the news of his demotion, Goodwin said: “Brilliant. Outstanding person, outstanding character. He understands he’s in good form in the ruck, but he also knows that we’ve got a responsibility as a club to get better – and part of getting better is that forward craft and he needs to do it.

“He’s embracing it, he wants to do it and he wants to be part of it.”

But speaking on Fox Footy Live after Friday night’s match, Mooney said the Dees were asking a lot of Grundy, who’s always been highly regarded as quality ruck with the ability to cover the ground well and become a ‘fourth midfielder’.

Mooney said the combination of Tom McDonald, Ben Brown, Bayley Fristch and the resting ruck was Melbourne’s “ultimate” forward line set-up, but that hadn’t come to fruition often this season.

“Because they haven’t had McDonald and Brown there for most of the season, we’ve had to watch Gawn and Grundy play as a centre half-forward and they don’t know how to play it,” Mooney told Fox Footy Live.

“They are not genuine centre half forwards. That has thrown them completely out of whack.

“You can’t teach this guy how to play as a key forward in three weeks – I think it’s going to be really hard for him.

“Unless he gets Brown or McDonald around him… they can play that (centre half-forward role). Then you can send Gawn or Grundy forward to play deep and leave them there.

“Don’t want them up the ground playing centre half forward where they’ll get lost. They have been getting lost.”

But Gawn post-game said he was “still dedicated to make that (combination) work” with Grundy.

“I think it’ll be a real powerhouse, myself and Brodie. Brodie has taken it like a man,” Gawn told Channel 7 post-game.

“We’ll get there.

“I’m not giving up on that.”

The Lions on Friday night appeared destined for victory when Joe Daniher put them up by 26 points early in the final term. But Melbourne refused to give in, kicking three unanswered goals to get the Dees within a point.

And with 33 seconds to go, Jake Melksham was the hero as he took a spectacular pack mark from three deep, before slotting the set-shot from 45m out to put the Demons back in front.

“I think it just shows the character and fight of our footy team,” Goodwin said.

“For large parts of that game, especially through the second and third quarter, you could well and truly tell that Brisbane were on top.

“But for our guys just to stay present, to stay in the now and then to adjust and work their way back … it’s incredible.

“We felt early in the last quarter, we started to get the game (on our terms) and giving ourselves opportunities in the right way … I think we probably had three or four shots at goal that just didn’t look anywhere near it – and that can really deflate a team. But to our players’ credit, it didn’t. We just kept going and eventually the wheel turned.

“We’ve kicked 105 against the third-placed team, so it’s pretty impressive.”

— with Catherine Healey and NCA NewsWire