Hawthorn have emerged as the latest club to be "in the mix" for contracted Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy for 2023.
The two-time Copeland Trophy winner has gained interest from multiple rival clubs this year amid building speculation around his future with the Magpies, despite his services being tied to the club until the end of the 2027 season.
Melbourne, GWS and Geelong have been named as keen suitors for Grundy, who has met with key personnel at the Demons in recent weeks.
Now, according toย RSN'sย Mark Stevens, the Hawks have joined the race for the 28-year-old, potentially planning for life after captain Ben McEvoy, who played his final AFL game on Sunday.
With salary space available to potentially accommodate Grundy's lucrative long-term deal, the Hawks could look to lure the 203cm-tall ruckman to Waverley to work with developing tall Ned Reeves.
"Brodie Grundy, a lot of talk about GWS and Melbourne," Stevens said on Monday morning.
"You can add Hawthorn to the list there as being interested in Brodie Grundy.
"[He could be] the main man to help Ned Reeves there, I think he'd be ideal at Hawthorn. There's a lot of green shoots at the Hawks.
"They're in the mix definitely. Once McEvoy's gone, he'd be ideal for the Hawks. They've got some room in the salary cap, so watch this space on Hawthorn."
Reeves and fellow young ruckman Max Lynch, a former teammate of Grundy's at Collingwood, have both battled in Sam Mitchell's pecking order this year as the club looks to identify its first-string ruckman.
Grundy would likely take the reins as the No.1, while working alongside the Hawks pair to aid their development.
Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves, the father of Ned, was recently questioned on a potential pursuit of Grundy onย SEN,ย with the Hawks boss stating the club will "look at every opportunity" this off-season.
โThatโs one for Mark McKenzie (Hawthorn's list manager). I know thatโs a cop out but the reality is there are so many variables in that," Reeves said.
โHeโs probably got plenty of footy left in him, I donโt 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.โ
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Collingwood are reportedly open to paying close to $300,000 of each remaining year in Grundy's contract to help broker a deal to see him depart Olympic Park at season's end.
Grundy has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering an ankle injury three weeks ago, a setback that came shortly after he returned from a knee issue that had kept him sidelined since Round 6.
