He’s been quietly dominant, but the numbers now back it up.
Brodie Grundy is officially the third-best player in the competition over the past six weeks, according to Champion Data.
While much of Sydney’s recent resurgence has been credited to returning stars, Grundy’s influence in the middle has gone under the radar.
In the last six rounds alone, the Swans ruckman has averaged 21.7 disposals, 39.5 hitouts, with an impressive 11.8 to advantage, as well as 7.8 clearances and 5.5 tackles per game. He’s also chalked up an average of 148 SuperCoach points in that span.
‘He is absolutely on his tucker’: Buckley praises Grundy’s freedom
Nathan Buckley, who coached Grundy during his Collingwood prime, believes the 30-year-old has rediscovered his best footy now that he’s back leading the ruck solo.
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“His last six rounds have been through the roof,” Buckley said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch. “Two weeks ago against the Bulldogs in that fantastic game that they got pipped in, that was probably as dominant a ruck performance as I’ve seen from him in terms of pure ruck work.
“He is absolutely on his tucker. He is loving playing. He loves responsibility when he’s the No. 1 guy. He struggled at Melbourne because he wasn’t, necessarily, and had to share that role.”
Grundy’s form surge has coincided with the Swans’ climb up the ladder, and it’s no coincidence.