Pies signed Grundy to a monster deal. Now he must reinvent himself or become a $7m anchor

All eyes are on the ruck battle in Friday night’s blockbuster between Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs.

It has been all one-way traffic in recent memory, with Brodie Grundy outclassing his Bulldogs opponents, collecting the maximum three Brownlow votes in all of the last three clashes.

But with Grundy coming off a disappointing finish to the 2020 campaign and the added ruck support for Tim English, just how dominant can the Pie be?

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“I want to find out who is Brodie Grundy? For me, I want to know early in 2021,” David King said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

“He’s got Stef Martin to contend with on Friday night as well as this man (Tim English) in small bursts because Bevo won’t allow it to be long bursts. But who is Brodie Grundy? When the game is going one way, it is probably away from Grundy.

“The ruckman this year are going to be able to intercept mark or get forward inside 50 and contested mark. The down the line kick is going to subside, there’s going to be less of them because of the hunt for corridor and the short ball chipping, uncontested marking game, if we think it goes that way.

“So the ruckman down the line is going to get less opportunity. We know we are already seeing 30 per cent less boundary throw-ins, so the boundary work around the ground that role has dissipated as well.

Grundy’s whopping $7 million contract begins this season with King believing the star ruck needing to do more in 2021, given the shift in game plans across the competition.

Grundy has a strong record against the Bulldogs.Source: News Corp Australia

“If you can’t get forward and take contested marks (then you’ll struggle),” he said.

“Grundy has taken four marks inside 50 last year and four marks inside 50 the previous year. It is not a big volume of work. Intercept marks are the next phase, I think he took 17 last year. Max Gawn takes about 30 a season.

“If you can’t get forward and you can’t get behind the ball to help your back six, what are you as a ruckman? Nic Nat does it with low numbers, but his centre bounce clearance work is so far superior it changes the game.

“If you’ve signed someone for $7 mil for seven years, they’ve got to bring something that changes the course of the game. That’s what I want to see. Can he still do that?

“We know he had a down year last year and the footy world are prepared (to say that was) hub life, let’s turn the page. We’ve got to see it Friday night, we’ve got to start strong and that’s why he’s on the watch list.”

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With Martin set for a one-on-one dual with Grundy, Leigh Montagna believes it opens the door for the Bulldogs to find the perfect addition to the forward line.

“Watch out for Tim English. Because of that fact, I think Stef Martin will play majority of the game in the ruck and try and maul Grundy and limit his influence. I think the Bulldogs might’ve found one in Tim English as a forward,” he added.

“He’s had four shots, five shots, in the two practice games leading up to Round 1. He took two marks inside 50, had 17 disposals and 1.3 in this game (against Melbourne).

“He’s a terrific mark, moves beautifully and he is a lovely kid. I’m wondering if by accidentally getting Stef Martin to support Tim English, they might unearth an elite forward.

“It has helped Bruce and it could potentially send Aaron Naughton to centre half back where he would be an All-Australian centre half back if he was able to play there for a full year.