Cox weighs in on All-Australian blazer for Swans star
Ruck Brodie Grundy (l) has done enough to warrant All-Australian selection, says coach Dean Cox. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP
Sydney coach Dean Cox reckons ruck Brodie Grundy would be a no-brainer for All-Australian selection.
Grundy pushed his case for a third All-Australian blazer even further with a rucking masterclass in their 14-point win over Essendon last time out.
The Swans star mastered slippery conditions best against Bombers counterpart Todd Goldstein to win 32 hitouts, 13 clearances and 39 disposals.
Grundy's wet-weather clinic earned him nine votes in the coaches' poll.
So impressive has the 31-year-old been in recent months that he was the only Swan to poll coaches' votes in their round-20 loss to GWS, netting three.
In their round-19 thrashing of North Melbourne, Grundy gathered a monster 62 hitouts, 11 clearances and 22 disposals.
He has a season average of 36.5 hitouts, 20.1 disposals and 6.2 clearances.
Former West Coast great Cox, a six-time All-Australian ruck, can see Grundy in a blazer already.
"I'd be surprised if he doesn't get one," Cox said on Thursday.
But Grundy will have to beat out former Melbourne teammate Max Gawn for a spot in the 22-man squad.
The Demons skipper also polled nine votes for his role in their 83-point drubbing of West Coast, finishing with 29 hitouts and 14 contested possessions.
Should Gawn earn his eighth blazer, the Demons ruck will equal the most All-Australian selections of all-time.
Fremantle star and 2021 Melbourne premiership player Luke Jackson is also in the mix as a second ruckman.
Cox wouldn't be drawn on the off-field ruck battle despite his expertise.
"I don't look too deeply into where they start," Cox said.
"I just think the season he (Grundy) has had he has had a massive impact on certainly our turnaround in the back half of the year.
"He was playing extremely well when we weren't."
The Swans will be joined by another Western Australian boasting six All-Australian nods with former Fremantle champion Matthew Pavlich taking over from Tom Harley as chief executive.
Cox and Pavlich will reunite on the east coast after a strong on-field rivalry in WA.
"Yeah, that's ... he's my boss," Cox joked.
While Pavlich will officially take over at the end of this season, Cox said he expects his involvement to begin "virtually from today" as the Swans cast their eye over their playing list.
Veteran defender Dane Rampe, 35, and Jake Lloyd, 31, are both out of contract at season's end.
Rampe is keen to play a 14th season but Cox wasn't concrete when asked about the defender's future ahead of last week's clash against Essendon.
Asked about Lloyd's future at the club on Monday, Cox said: "We see him as part of our future.
"That'll be just a constant discussion. Same as Dane.
"We're in constant dialogue with all our senior players and players that are out of contract about what the situation looks like.
"The ability to still be able to play footy and to a level that's required - he's (Lloyd) doing that, which is good."
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