Collingwood’s $7 million man Brodie Grundy would be playing VFL this weekend if he was ready to return from injury, according to AFL greats Garry Lyon and Tim Watson.

Such is the dominance of Magpies duo Mason Cox and Darcy Cameron in Grundy’s absence that both Lyon and Watson believe 28-year-old wouldn’t be a “walk-up starter” at Collingwood.

“You’ve got Cox in his career best form, you’ve got Cameron in career best form,” Lyon said on SEN.

“I would play the two blokes who are playing right now and make him earn his way back into the side.”

Both Cox and West Aussie Cameron are playing for their futures, with the duo coming out of contract at the end of 2022.

Grundy, a two-time All Australian, hasn’t played since Round 6 when he suffered a PCL injury in a ruck contest in the clash with Essendon.

Since then, the Magpies have gone on to win five of their next seven games and move inside the top eight.

But former Pies coach Nathan Buckley refused to rule Grundy out of an immediate return, when he does overcome his knee injury.

“I think the short answer is yes (Grundy returns to the senior side), but I don’t know exactly how it would play out,” he said.

“We go these what ifs assuming that 100% of the people are going to be available. Mason might not be playing, or Darcy Cameron might not be playing if Brodie Grundy didn’t get injured.

“I think he would play but I don’t think they’d play the three talls from what I’ve seen.”

Grundy’s position at the club has been questioned in recent weeks, with both Lyon and Fox Footy’s Nick Riewoldt questioning if it was worth trading out the ruckman – despite his long-term deal.

“Would it be in the realms of possibility that Collingwood may be looking at this situation and asking a question of whether they’ve allocated their recourses in the most effective way with Brodie? And whether or not there was a chance to extricate themselves from the deal?” Lyon posed.

Grundy (seven-year deal for $7 million) and teammate Darcy Moore (six-year deal reportedly worth more than $5 million) are sitting on big money contracts while the club is still trying to re-sign Jordan de Goey.

“What were seeing right now, I would play those two guys (Cox and Cameron) … but it may be we are talking about those two guys working so well in tandem and you forget Grundy’s contribution,” SEN’s Tim Watson said.

“By (Grundy) being out injured, Cameron’s had more time to develop even better … and Mason Cox too.

“(But) I know (Cox) has done this before where he’s actually looking like he’s going to blossom and hasn’t.”

Grundy still remains at least a month away from a return, after his review with a specialist last month.

The club says the ruckman is hitting personal bests in the gym after losing his knee brace, and is expected to begin running this week.

Grundy’s big money deal runs until the end of 2027.