AS with any draft, there are going to be players that go on to have long and successful AFL careers, and those that unfortunately do not. The 2012 National Draft for instance has now seen two players reach 100 games in Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines (112 games) and the Western Bulldogs’ Jack Macrae (104 games), with Sam Mayes, Nick Vlastuin, Joe Daniher, Lachie Whitfield and Jake Stringer all expected to reach their century milestone in the coming weeks. However, if one was to re-draft the 2012 edition today, it is the player selected with pick 18 that may well prove to be the best of the lot, in Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy.

Grundy was drafted from Sturt with the Magpies’ first selection in the 2012 National Draft, and after playing just the seven games in his debut 2013 season, has steadily improved his performances each year, having now played 87 games with the Magpies.

At 202 centimetres, Grundy was the tallest player drafted in the first round of the 2012 draft and like most tall players, has taken a little while to reach his full potential. But what is exciting for Collingwood fans, is that Grundy has seemingly now reached elite status as a ruck-cum-midfielder, and all at the age of just 24. 

In 2017, despite Collingwood’s disappointing 13th place finish, Grundy enjoyed a career-best season, playing in all bar two of the Magpies’ fixtures, due only to a suspension incurred from a tackle on North Melbourne’s Ben Brown in Round 20. Numbers wise, he averaged 18.4 disposals per game at 66 per cent efficiency, with 35.7 hit outs, four clearances and a SuperCoach average of 97.2 points per game.

But it is Grundy’s 2018 output which has seen him go to a whole new level, with a disposal average of 22.4 at 74 per cent efficiency, with 35.4 hitouts, 6.2 clearances and a massive jump in his SuperCoach average to an elite 128.4 points per game.

After a slow start in the Pies opening round loss to Hawthorn, with just 12 disposals and 28 hit outs, in each of his last four games Grundy has collected at least 20 touches, 30 hit outs and has named been in Collingwood’s best players on three occasions.  His performances against Carlton in Round 3 and Adelaide in Round 4 are likely to attract Brownlow votes at season’s end.

Grundy currently ranks fourth in the league for hit outs, 11th in clearances, and is the only ruck to rank inside the top 70 for disposals. 

Barring injury, Grundy should have the best part of a decade left at the top level, and could well rank as one of the best rucks in modern football. It is putting a lot of expectation to say this, but what he has shown in his career to date, particularly this season shows he has developed his body enough to impact on a whole game and attract midfielder like stats while playing a crucial role in the ruck for the Magpies.

If Grundy is able to maintain this form over a number of years, he may well be seen as the best value pick in the 2012 draft, despite the worthy efforts of some of the players drafted before him. Ultimately time will tell on that one, but as a football fan, I look forward to seeing Grundy’s progress in the weeks and years to come as he is not only exciting to watch, but that he is able to deliver in his role for the team.