Not even a bluebottle jellyfish sting might cease Brodie Grundy from tearing up former teammate Max Gawn in Sydney’s opening-round victory over Melbourne.
Seven months after the Demons pulled the pin on their makes an attempt to accomplice him with Gawn, Grundy fought like a ruck possessed within the Swans’ 22-point victory – 12.14 (86) to 9.10 (64) – on the SCG on Thursday evening.
Showing glimpses of his former All-Australian self, the one-year Demon shook off a bluebottle sting behind the ear and used his physique nicely on the contest to attain 22 disposals, 9 clearances and 31 hitouts to settle the rating.
“It was effing sore, man. It was so painful this morning,” Grundy stated of his ocean swim incident earlier than the sport.
“It’s funny because I was like, ‘there’s lots of blue things around on the rocks here – I’ll be right’ and I jumped in.
“Maybe I ought to get stung extra usually.”
The 29-year-old fell short of snatching a goal in his Swans debut while Gawn was kept to 15 disposals, two clearances and 39 hitouts in their personal duel.
“Max is an unimaginable, endurance athlete (however) it was much less about Max,” Grundy stated.
“I’ve complete respect for him as a participant and Melbourne as a soccer membership.
“It was just more about me being the best version of me.
“When I’m doing that, I’m aggressive, I’m aggressive.”
Recruited by Melbourne to work in tandem with Gawn, Grundy was ultimately dropped and missed out on a finals appearance last year after the Dees found they functioned better with Gawn as the sole ruckman.
His move to the harbour city came after the two-time All-Australian was initially squeezed out of Collingwood in 2022 because of salary cap pressure.
“It’s a protracted highway. The highway will proceed to stretch on,” Grundy stated.
“I simply wish to be me. Regardless of the wins, the losses, the ups and downs, I simply wish to wish to come out right here and really feel like I play like Brodie Grundy.
“I think I did that.”
Grundy wasn’t the one Swan having a Thursday evening reunion.
After impressing within the pre-season, former Demons midfielder James Jordon took 18 touches, seven tackles and three marks in his debut within the crimson and white.
The unused 2021 premiership substitute had moved interstate after failing to land a everlasting spot in Simon Goodwin’s greatest 22.
“I’m happy to play my role each week and I was lucky enough to get on the end of it (during pre-season),” Jordon stated.
“I had a really strong pre-season and I’m taking that momentum.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
