Former Collingwood recruiter Matt Rendell has declared there is 'no way known' he would've given star ruckman Brodie Grundy a seven-year deal.
The big man penned a monster extension with the Pies earlier in the year that will tie him to the club until the end of 2027.
The mammoth contract was widely criticised at the time and even moreso following Grundy's indifferent 2020 campaign.
The Magpies are now struggling to manage their tight salary cap, with the likes of Adam Treloar, Tom Phillips and Mason Cox linked to trade talks to help ease their dire financial situation.
Speaking on AFL Trade Radio, Rendell believes Grundy's mega deal has left the club 'hamstrung'.
“The Grundy deal they asked me and I said ‘no way known (would I give him) seven years,” Rendell told AFL Trade Radio on Wednesday.
“I said I’m very happy to do five at most. They would’ve been worried about losing him, I think it was Adelaide, for the extra two years.
“I’ve gone ‘so be it’. Let’s move on. I’ve got a replacement for you and I went and did a lot of homework on it.
“I think it’s fraught with danger. He’s been a star, he never misses, he’s a pro, he’s first in and last out, he’s great for your culture and all that sort of stuff, but I just don’t like how you hamstring your club to a seven-year contract for a lot of money.”
Rendell has previously said on SEN that he identified Port Adelaide's Sam Hayes as Grundy's potential replacement.
Grundy, 26, has played 151 AFL games for Collingwood after making his debut in 2013, winning two best and fairests and two All Australians.
