Jake Lever – Michmutters

Brodie Grundy to Hawthorn Hawks, future at Collingwood Magpies, latest, Luke Jackson to Fremantle Dockers, Sean Darcy, Melbourne Demons

Hawthorn has responded to his potential pursuit of Brodie Grundy.

Plus a gun Docker has revealed he reached out to Luke Jackson amid intense speculation around the Demon’s future.

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HAWKS ANSWER GRUNDY QUESTION

Hawthorn has remained tight lipped on his potential pursuit of star Brodie Grundy amid uncertain around the star ruckman’s future at the Magpies.

The Hawks have been touted as a potential landing spot for Grundy following skipper Ben McEvoy’s retirement announcement this week.

Collingwood is reportedly shopping the 28-year old to rivals and willing to chip in $300,000 of his annual salary worth around $1 million until 2025 at another club, with the Demons and Giants reportedly already meeting with the big man.

Feet rebound from cap scandal | 02:10

Asked about the potential for Hawthorn to recruit Grundy, club CEO Justin Reeves told SEN: “That’s one for Mark McKenzie (list manager). I know that’s a cop out but the reality is there are so many variables in that.

“He’s probably got plenty of footy left in him, I don’t know the figures of his contract but what we should say is you look at every opportunity that you think would make your football club better.”

Grundy, who hasn’t played an AFL game since Anzac Day due to a PCL setback, had been nearing a return to the senior level before suffering a stress fracture in his ankle in a VFL match, ruling him out for the rest of the regular season.

The ruckman signed his current lucrative deal, estimated to be worth $7 million in total, at the end of 2019.

DARCY CHECKS IN ON JACKSON

Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy has revealed he reached out to Luke Jackson to check in on the Demons star amid intense speculation around his future.

Jackson, who’s out of contract at the end of the season and weighing up his future, has been heavily linked with a move to the Dockers on a lucrative, long-term deal that would see him return to his home state.

Speaking on Triple M, Darcy said he at large contacted Jackson to see how he was traveling mentally with all the external noise.

“I’ve spoken to him about how he’s going. It’s a pretty tough decision for him,” Darcy told Triple M.

“Flattest” feeling after Pies loss | 02:25

“I just checked on him mentally, with everything going around. It’s pretty tough on him. His name of him ‘s in the newspaper every day.

“I had a little bit last year when (reports said) I was desperate to leave. But that never came from me, that was more media making it up.”

As Jackson doesn’t yet qualify or free agency, he’d need to move clubs via trade.

The former Pick 3 has played 48 AFL games for Melbourne including in its drought-breaking premiership win last year.

AFL: ‘As flat as I’ve been’: Star Demon Jake Lever on Melbourne’s loss to Collingwood

Melbourne defender Jake Lever expects the Demons to address a worrying trend of blowing strong starts after Friday night’s fadeout loss to Collingwood.

The reigning premier has lost three of its past five matches – to Geelong, Western Bulldogs and the Magpies –Despite leading two of those by about four goals in the first half and the other by 11 points early.

Melbourne dominated Collingwood in inside 50s, clearances and center clearances, especially in the opening two quarters, but never led by more than 23 points and was run down in a seven-goals-to-three second half.

The Demons also coughed up match-winning advantages in defeats to Fremantle, Sydney and the Magpies in rounds 11 to 13, so it’s not a new problem.

“We’re very disappointed that we lost (on Friday night). I was extremely disappointed the next day – probably as flat as I’ve been after a game,” Lever said.

“I thought that we played some good footy in the first half and it has been a little bit of a trend at the minute of us starting well and then not being able to finish.

“I’m sure we’ll touch on it but we’re pretty disappointed. But to Collingwood’s credit, they just found a way.”

Lever suggested the unenviable record might owe to Melbourne falling into a bad habit of thinking more about the result than the process as they try to lock in a top-four berth in the next fortnight.

“We didn’t take our chances and we’re sitting here without the four points and we’ve got a pretty important couple of weeks coming up,” he said.

“It’s obviously pretty important (to make the top four) – I think history suggests that. But the good thing is it’s kind of in our own hands now.

“I haven’t done the maths, but I think that if we win the next two, we probably finish top four, so that’s super important for us.”

The Demons face Carlton (MCG) and Brisbane (Gabba) in the final two rounds, with the Blues’ two-headed forward monster of Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay presenting a significant challenge.

But Lever said it was an “exciting” opportunity for he and his fellow defenders, particularly after the Pies’ hectic ball movement brought them unstuck last week.

“You look at their names up there and they’ve got some serious talent,” he said.

“I think Charlie’s kicked 60 goals this year, and Harry wouldn’t be far behind, so we know that they’ve got a lot of scoring power up there.

“But, for us, and especially with guys like Steven May, ‘Hibbo’ (Michael Hibberd) and Harry Petty, they thrive off that sort of stuff… we’ll be looking forward to the challenge.”

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