Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin insists he’s not making an attempt to show Brodie Grundy right into a everlasting ahead and slammed the “hysteria” in regards to the ruckman’s future on the membership.
Brought to the membership to type a one-two mixture with Melbourne captain Max Gawn, Grundy was axed final week and despatched to the VFL with an edict to work on his ahead craft as a part of his twin function.
In the absence of Grundy, Gawn produced a shocking effort to assist carry Melbourne to an exciting one-point come-from-behind win on the MCG over Brisbane, producing the very best score sport for any participant in 4 years.
It moved Grundy’s former coach at Collingwood, Nathan Buckley, to name the state of affairs “muddy and murky” and query whether or not Grundy may stay at Melbourne as a result of he’s not a ahead and “never will be”.
Goodwin confirmed on Thursday that Grundy would spend one other week at VFL stage however slammed discuss the Demons had been abandoning plans for the tag-team ruck duo as a part of their premiership marketing campaign.
“We’re trying to increase the combination forward of the ball. We’re not trying to turn Brodie Grundy into a forward – let’s be really clear on that,” Goodwin mentioned.
“We’re trying to turn this ruck combination into a dominant force that will help us in the ruck but also help us ahead of the ball.
“On the back of that hysteria, I’ve heard him playing as a permanent forward, I’ve heard we’re trying to trade him. That’s not the case.
“We love Brodie Grundy, we think this is going to be a dominant force and we’re going to keep working to do it.”
Goodwin mentioned there was no set timeline on how lengthy Grundy would spend within the VFL and his return to the AFL line-up was not depending on his output as a ahead.
But goalkicking will likely be a giant a part of each Grundy and Gawn’s roles going ahead.
“We see Brodie and Max playing 10 minutes a quarter forward of the ball,” he mentioned.
“But how we get that additional publicity is at VFL stage, so he’ll play as a everlasting ahead once more this week (within the VFL).
“We know what he can do within the ruck. We‘re trying to increase his ability to impact forward of the ball.”
Melbourne booted their best score in almost three months, kicking 16 goals against the Lions without Grundy and star forward Bailey Fritsch.
Goodwin said defender Harrison Petty, who was subbed out of the win over Brisbane with rib soreness, was no certainty to face Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday.
“On the first sightings in the early part of the week, he’s progressing in the best route,” Goodwin mentioned.
Originally printed as Simon Goodwin adamant Brodie Grundy has a future at Melbourne
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
