Magpies star’s pre-GF approach to rivals revealed as Swans cash in on failed trade gamble.

Collingwood vice-captain Taylor Adams first approached Sydney while injured as his teammates prepared to take on Brisbane in the 2023 AFL grand final, it’s been revealed.

The Swans managed to snare Adams for pick 33 in one of two massive deals for the club on Wednesday -while also signing former Pie Brodie Grundy for pick 46 and a future second-round selection.

As part of the deal, the Swans will only pay part of Grundy’s wage – with Collingwood still to stump up $1 million for the big man to play elsewhere

It ends a big day for Sydney, who have already secured James Jordon and Joel Hamling during free agency for next season.

But it was a revelation from Sydney list manager Kinnear Beatson that shocked most on Wednesday as he said Adams approached the club “really late in the finals series” about a possible deal.

“The interest (from Taylor Adams) came really late in the finals series – it came between prelim and Grand Final week where he got his injury,” he said on SEN.

“We were then approached by his manager to see if it was something we’d look at.”

Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph said Adams could “see the writing on the wall” after being pushed out of the Pies’ core midfield.

“I think there was a fair element of him saying to his good mate Brodie Grundy, ‘look you’re going to Sydney; I can see what’s going to happen the next couple of years for me, I’d love to go to Sydney as well’,” he said on Trading Day.

“(Sydney) don’t need these guys forever.

“I get the feeling after the last couple of days, Taylor could see the writing on the wall. Play one more year, and be surplus to (Collingwood’s) requirements.”

Pleasingly for Melbourne, they’ve offloaded ruckman Brodie Grundy without having to pay him to play elsewhere – with the Pies to cough up another $250,000 a year for his next four years.

Ralph said given the Swans only need to pay $650,000 of Grundy’s wage, it was a win for the club who have cap space to spare following the retirement of million-dollar man Lance Franklin.

“If you said to (the Swans) 18 months ago – (give up pick) 44 and a future pick 30, and you pay $650,000 for a two-time best and fairest winner and two-time All Australian, they would have jumped at it in a heartbeat,” Ralph said.

“Collingwood still pay a million bucks (over the four years), Melbourne are out of it.”

Kinnear said the club “would’ve been mad” not to jump into the race to secure Grundy.

“The thought of a new environment where he’s not going to be hassled every two minutes is something he’s looking forward to. He can walk around the streets of Sydney and not be hassled for a selfie,” he said on SEN.

Fox Footy’s Nick Dal Santo said he didn’t see Melbourne worse off for their trade gamble on Grundy just 12 months ago.

“There’ll be a lot questions asked around Melbourne and the decision 12 months ago (to recruit Grundy),” he said on Trading Day.