Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has urged Magpies fans not to boo Brodie Grundy when he lines up against his old side on Monday.
Grundy, a two-time Magpies best and fairest winner, was traded away against his will to Melbourne during last year’s trade period.
McGuire declared that he still had “love” for the now-Melbourne big man, and urged the Magpie Army to remember what he gave the club in his time.
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“Brodie Grundy didn’t want to leave Collingwood and was shown the door, simple as that,” McGuire told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“He’s one of the best players that have come through (Collingwood). When they bounce the ball on Monday I won’t have a soft spot for him, but if he can be best on ground and the Pies win by 10 goals I wouldn’t be too disappointed.
“He’s a great guy. I hope no one boos him either because he wanted to stay and he was moved on.
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“He doesn’t deserve a boo, if anything he deserves a round of applause from the Collingwood crowd.
“He’s a two-time best and fairest winner who loved the club and didn’t want to go, (but) it’s a part of business.
“That’s no knock on what they (the Magpies) did, because they’ve got (Tom) Mitchell, who will be at the fall of the ball, and (Bobby) Hill who is an excitement machine, and that could be a really good example of smart list management.”
Grundy has formed a potent ruck tandem with Melbourne skipper Max Gawn at his new club.
Speaking ahead of the blockbuster clash, Gawn revealed that Grundy had requested to take the first bounce against Collingwood.
The King’s Birthday clash between the first-placed Magpies and third-placed Demons is the headline act in round 13.
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