Melbourne senior coach Simon Goodwin has shared the latest on Brodie Grundy's VFL demotion after the ex-Magpie was overlooked at AFL selection for the second-straight week, as the Demons triumphed over the Adelaide Crows on Sunday afternoon.
Max Gawn, Melbourne's captain and unrivalled number-one ruckman, was immensely influential for the second consecutive weekend, earning 38 hit-outs, kicking two goals, and taking eight marks against the Crows at the MCG after registering 29 possessions, 39 hit-outs, and one goal the prior Friday against the Brisbane Lions.
Gawn's prolific form as the Dees' solo ruckman, along with Goodwin's current preference for Jacob van Rooyen and Ben Brown as Melbourne's key forward tandem, continues to keep Grundy at bay as he plies his forward trade for the club's VFL affiliate, Casey.
"We'll continue to assess that," Goodwin advised post-game when quizzed about his side's forward-line recipe.
The burgeoning van Rooyen managed just the solitary goal against the Crows, while fellow tall goalkicker Brown went scoreless and had just five disposals.
Goodwin claimed his coaching group was 'really encouraged' by Grundy's performance for Casey this weekend, as he notched 12 disposals, four marks, and a goal in a 42-point win over the lowly Coburg Lions.
"We were really encouraged by what Brodie did at VFL (level) yesterday," said Goodwin.
"The patterns he was running, his impact in the game, I think he had four shots at goal.
"Just the exposure at VFL level, you could see he's starting to get some grasp on that forward half of the ground.
"We've started to hit the scoreboard a little bit better the last few weeks but we're not the finished product ... We're still very open-minded about what it looks like."
Goodwin re-affirmed his stance of not trying to re-make Grundy's footballing profile.
"As I've said all along, we're not trying to turn him into a forward," he continued. "We want him to have [an] impact when he's forward but also share those ruck duties.
"It's a very long season, AFL footy, and it's a very big load to carry for one person in the ruck. At times, we're going to need both of them up and going."
Melbourne plays Richmond next weekend in a finals-shaping Sunday afternoon MCG blockbuster.
Due to co-captain Toby Nankervis' ongoing suspension, the Tigers are trotting out Ivan Soldo as the solo ruckman, indicating the likely possibility that Grundy is again VFL-bound next weekend due to Goodwin's lesser need for a rucking duo.
Casey plays Williamstown next Sunday mid-day in the hours leading up to Melbourne's fixture in the afternoon.