Retired AFL star Kane Cornes has taken aim at Collingwood for giving Brodie Grundy a long-term deal, saying "ruckmen are overrated".

The former Port Adelaide player told SEN that the seven-year-deal was too long for a ruckman, and also suggested 25-year-old Grundy was offered too much coin.

“Seven years and seven million for a ruckman who has had a heavy workload and is already banged up, what will he be like at the age of 34?” Cornes told SEN.

“Are ruckmen that influential on the modern game? The best example of this is the 2019 Preliminary Final between the Giants and Collingwood, a game that Collingwood lost.

“Grundy’s numbers in that game were extraordinary. He won 73 hit-outs, 10 clearances, he had 25 disposals and the team clearance numbers, Collingwood won that 54 to 35.

“He was up against a player the Giants plucked out of retirement. Speaking of banged up, that’s what Shane Mumford was for the Giants, but they didn’t win. They lost that game despite those extraordinary numbers from Grundy.

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The Collingwood ruckman has revealed he turned his back on a rumoured move back home to South Australia. Credit: Getty

“Ruckmen are still, I think, overrated in this game and you’re not going to give seven years, seven million to a ruckman.”

Cornes then went on to highlight that the last six AFL premiership winners won the flag without star ruckmen in their team.

“Good ruckmen don’t equate to premierships and that is what Collingwood are chasing," Cornes said.

“It is the wrong call to sign Grundy to a seven-year deal, as much as I love his off-field stuff and the way that he plays his footy, it is the wrong call.”

Why Grundy turned his back on free agency

Grundy would have become a free agent at the end of the 2020 season and had been linked to a return to his home state of South Australia but instead committed to the Magpies until the end of 2027.

"Clearly, at this age and point in my career, it was an important decision," Grundy said.

"I took my time to consider all of the things that mean the most to me - my football, my ambitions, my life beyond the game, my family, friends, team-mates and the football club - and settled on what I believe is best for all of those relationships, needs and passions."

A two-time Australian and dual Copeland Trophy winner, Grundy has played 132 games for the Magpies since he was drafted at Pick 18 in the 2012 AFL Draft.

Grundy has made his mark with his ability to have an impact both at stoppages and around the ground.

Brodie Grundy has played 132 games for the Magpies since he was drafted in 2012. Credit: AAP

In 2019 alone he averaged 21.3 disposals, 42.6 hitouts and 6.1 clearances per game.

"Brodie is clearly a very, very good footballer who is important to Collingwood's future," Magpies list manager Ned Guy said.

"Brodie is physical in the way he plays the game. He prepares exceptionally well which explains, in part, his durability. He wants to lead, wants to improve, wants to set an example and dominate. He is rarely content with his game.

"We love the fact that he sees so much scope for improvement and is determined to be as good as he can possibly be even though, at 25 years of age, he is already an influential player on the field and, increasingly, in the change room.

"If you look at Brodie's performances, he is on an upswing. It will be fascinating, and a joy, to see Brodie's future unfold."

With AAP