Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin is remaining tightlipped on Luke Jackson’s attainable transfer to Fremantle and his membership’s need to recruit Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy as a alternative, however says he desires to proceed to play two rucks past this AFL season.
The Demons’ hierarchy has reportedly met with the 28-year-old Grundy, who’s in demand regardless of having 5 years to run on a large contract.
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Jackson is weighing up his future, with presents on the desk from Melbourne and Fremantle, who’re eager to lure the younger star again to his residence state.
Goodwin was quizzed on the transfer for Grundy on Wednesday however wouldn’t remark on assembly the two-time All-Australian ruckman, who has been sidelined by knee and ankle accidents since spherical six.
Goodwin is keen to persevering with partnering captain Max Gawn with one other front-line ruckman and stated he was working on contingency plans to deal with the attainable lack of Jackson.
The 2-ruck plan was essential in delivering a drought-breaking premiership final yr and has helped put the third-placed Demons on observe for one more shot on the flag this yr.
“If you look at what’s been happening, this year, especially in the last month, Luke Jackson’s been able to play in the ruck for us and you can see Max Gawn’s having a big impact for us forward of centre,” Goodwin informed reporters.
“Gawny’s looking more and more dangerous as a forward and it’s something that we’ve liked in the last three or four weeks, and it’s something that we’ll continue to pursue.
“So two rucks is something, with the right mix, that will work for us.”
Goodwin, Gawn and Melbourne soccer boss Alan Richardson reportedly met with Grundy in latest days.
The 177-game ruckman, who was chosen alongside Gawn within the 2018 and 2019 All-Australian groups, signed a profitable seven-year contract with Collingwood in early 2020.
“I’m not going to speculate and talk about players from opposition clubs. It’s something that we don’t do,” Goodwin stated.
“Clearly in our industry people are going around looking at how they can potentially improve their lists in the years going forward but to be honest that’s not my focus at the moment.
“My focus is purely on (the game against) Carlton this week and how we play our best footy and how we continue to build our current season.”
Melbourne will give in-demand Jackson time to decide on his taking part in future however are already getting ready for the 20-year-old’s attainable departure.
“You’ve got contingency plans for a whole range of things that sit within your environment, whether that be staff, whether that be players or whether that be a whole range of things,” Goodwin stated.
“We’ve spoken about Luke a lot and we’re going to give him the most amount of time for him to make his decision.
“We don’t know what that decision is at the moment.
“We’ll continue to build contingencies, we’ll continue to work with Luke in giving him the best environment possible to want to stay here and Luke will make that decision when the time is right.”
In the meantime, Essendon captain Dyson Heppell’s future on the Bombers is rising more and more unsure by the day.
Heppell is weighing up a one-year contract extension to remain at Essendon or a two-year deal at Gold Coast.
“We’re working through that at the moment,” the skipper informed 7NEWS Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary.
“I’m really just honing in on trying to finish off the year well for the Dons and see how we go from there.
“Who knows at the moment … everything will get sorted ASAP.”
– with 7NEWS
