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“And, you know, they made me feel really valued. And that’s something that, you know, I wasn’t necessarily feeling from Collingwood at that time, you know, in view of the trade.
“I think that’s when I play my best football is when I feel valued and I certainly feel that from Max [Gawn] and from Simon [Goodwin].”
Grundy said Gawn, with whom he would share rucking duties, had been an important factor in him choosing the Demons. “I was really impressed with Max and he’s a very charismatic man and he’s pretty transparent as well. He was honest and we spoke about what that dynamic would look like.”
The documentary reveals Gawn would play 70 per cent of his time forward, allowing Grundy to ruck.
Asked about similarities and differences between Collingwood and Melbourne, Grundy said the operations were “pretty similar”.
“But culture is a living and breathing thing and you know it’s made from its people. The Melbourne footy club has got some tremendous people and you know they’ve been through some ups and downs over their time and it’s really shaped them,” he said.
Brodie Grundy believes Moore is the perfect leader for Collingwood.Credit:Jason South
“I’ve been really impressed coming in - the authenticity and the ability to roll their sleeves up and do the hard work. You know I’ve been tested at times throughout the summer, but yeah, it’s all going to be a really positive thing.
“Back end of my career - you know we [Collingwood] lost a grand final by under a kick. It’s certainly, the time is evaporating, so it’d be good to be a part of that [a premiership].”
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Grundy shows some emotion in the Stan documentary. “That was one of the compelling reasons to get involved. I try and wear my heart on my sleeve ... I said to the producer, ‘I’m not going to be talking about, you know, dollar signs and stuff, but I’ll talk about my experience’.”
Grundy’s hefty seven-year deal, which has five years to run, was a major reason Collingwood wished to trade him, with the Pies picking up some of that contract, but saving salary-cap room. Asked about if he thought a shorter deal might not have seen him traded, Grundy said: “Hindsight’s a wonderful thing ... you’d be driving yourself mad if you entertained that. You’d be down the rabbit hole.”
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