Brodie Grundy is confident in where his fitness is at after a friendly fire training incident struck him down with a toe injury earlier this year.
The 24-year-old rejoined the main training group on February 18 and is set to play a role in Collingwood’s JLT Community Series campaign.
“You’d always like to be fitter, stronger and quicker. Where I am now, considering what has happened I think I’m really well placed,” Grundy told SEN’s Whateley program.
“We’ve still got a month of solid footy to get in and build chemistry with the team.
“I think I’ve made a bit of step up. I don’t think I was projected to play the JTL first game (against Fremantle). I think I’m doing that now.
“It’s all positive.”
Collingwood will take on the Dockers at Joondalup on Monday, March 4.
Grundy and his teammates are in a positive frame of mind ahead of the match.
“The space that the club is in at the moment is fantastic,” he said. “I can’t speak highly enough of how the right people have come in and really changed the organisation for the better.
“The feeling of coming into work, I’m really loving the space I’m in. As I’m sure you know, when you love what you do, you’ll generally perform better. It’s exciting.”
Grundy challenged himself during the off-season by completing the gruelling hike to the Mt Everest base camp.
“My friend was going to base camp, and we were chatting throughout the year how awesome it would be,” he recalled.
“My girlfriend actually did base camp the year before, she was always in my ear about how I’d love it, I’d love the culture, I’d love the people. I thought it was a nice sentiment and that it’d be good to get there one day.
“Then, I thought, ‘Stuff it, there’s no time like now.’
“It felt like a bit of a representation of our year, you know. We climbed a bit of a mountain as a footy club. I thought, why not climb Mt Everest after the season.
“It was fantastic. One of the best things I’ve ever done.
“I found some time to myself. I found times when I was in awe of the world and the landscape. You meet fantastic unique people.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what language you speak there is always a way to connect with people. I definitely felt that with the Nepalese boys.
“It’s a really grounding experience when you’re gasping for air and your legs are burning. You’re doing this alongside someone you’ve just met, but you feel connected to them.”
