Collingwood Magpies toppled as star ruckman Brodie Grundy disappears

Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy has once again come under scrutiny following an underwhelming performance against the GWS Giants at the MCG.

The injury-riddled Giants secured their maiden victory of the 2021 premiership on Saturday evening, toppling the Magpies 14.6 (90) to 9.6 (60) in a shock upset.

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Grundy was overpowered by Giants ruckman Shane Mumford early in the round four clash, mustering just one disposal and one hit-out to advantage in the first term.

And as GWS extended their lead in the second term, only two of Grundy’s 14 hit-outs were to a teammate’s advantage, compared to Mumford’s three from five attempts.

Hawthorn premiership player Campbell Brown told AFL Nation: “Brodie Grundy just hasn’t rocked up tonight, I’m not sure whether it’s physical or mental. He’s just missing targets, making the wrong decisions and he’s not even winning the hit-outs.”

Western Bulldogs great Adam Cooney agreed: “Brodie Grundy looks a step off the pace.”

Former Hawthorn star Daniel Harford echoed Brown’s comments on 3AW: “I think Brodie Grundy needs to step up in this game.”

The 26-year-old is reportedly in the first season of a mammoth seven-year deal with the Magpies, estimated to be worth $1 million per year.

“If you’re going to pay someone a million dollars a year, they’ve got to be the difference in the game. You can’t be in question,” North Melbourne legend David King told Fox Footy last month.

“If you’re going to be a senior player demanding that sort of coin then you’ve got to be the difference. You’ve got to be a marquee player if you’re going to get marquee money.”

Grundy managed to rediscover his mojo in the third term as Collingwood slowly closed the margin.

With the Magpies trailing by just 10 points in the fourth quarter, the match looked poised for a thrilling conclusion, but late goals for Josh Kelly and Jeremy Finlayson sealed a much-needed victory for the Giants.

Taking over from the injured Stephen Coniglio as Giants captain for the first time, Toby Greene put on a masterclass at the MCG, scoring an equal career-high five goals.

Considering the Giants were missing 11 players through suspension and injury, it was an incredibly gutsy performance from the 2019 grand finalists.

“This is a massive result for the Giants,” St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt told Fox Footy. “Staring down the barrel of 0-4 with the changes that they had coming into this game – most of them forced.

“All those injuries for the Giants coming into the game, maybe for the regeneration of this group, that’s exactly what they’ve needed because we know they’ve had all these kids sitting there but we don’t really know whether they can play.

“It’s a win full of character.”

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Collingwood’s season record now stands at 1-3, with the club set to come up against the West Coast Eagles in Perth next weekend.

Meanwhile, GWS will face cross-town rivals the Sydney Swans at the SCG.