Buckley says Grundy is fine for AFL clash

Brodie Grundy left the track early at training but Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says the ruckman will play against Melbourne.

Brodie Grundy.

Brodie Grundy will be fit to take his place for Collingwood in their AFL clash with Melbourne. (AAP)

In-form Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy is a confirmed starter this Monday, setting up an AFL All-Australian duel with Melbourne star Max Gawn.

Grundy roled his ankle in last Saturday's loss to Fremantle and left Thursday's training early.

But coach Nathan Buckley said there is no doubt about his availability for the annual Queen's Birthday blockbuster.

"Brodes is fine - he got through the game well after tweaking it a little bit (early)," Buckley said.

"But we've had a longer week, it gives us a little bit more time to recover and prepare.

"We don't think we'll have a problem there."

Grundy v Gawn is a dream duel and the first time the two top AFL ruckmen have gone up against each other in the regular season since last year's All-Australian selection.

"It's exciting, two really quality players going at it," said Demons coach Simon Goodwin.

"(They're) slightly different in their ruck craft and how they position themselves around the ground, so clearly that's going to be a talking point at match committee.

"It's going to be an intriguing duel."

While Grundy's assignment is straightforward, there is much for Collingwood to ponder in the wake of the narrow loss to Fremantle.

Dayne Beams' hip surgery leaves a big hole in the midfield, while ruck-forward Mason Cox is pushing for a recall from his ankle injury.

Brayden Sier, Josh Daicos and Rupert Wills appear the three top candidates to take Beams' spot.

Buckley remains unsure whether Cox will return and he added it is a consideration that the big American comes back through the VFL first.

"I'm not going to count my chickens, but he trained well again," Buckley said.

Another consideration is how Cox and Ben Reid might work together in Collingwood's attack.

"That's something we have to consider, when Coxy gets up, what the ultimate balance of the side is and the way we want to go with that," he said.

Fremantle's upset win has further encouraged the Magpies to also look hard at how well they are defending.

"Over the last couple of weeks, we probably just haven't defended the ground as well as normally do," Buckley said.

"That's our DNA, it's something we pride ourselves on.

"We weren't altogether sharp today (at training), but it was a step forward."


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Source: AAP



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