Not even a bluebottle jellyfish sting could stop Brodie Grundy from tearing up former teammate Max Gawn in Sydney's opening-round victory over Melbourne.
Seven months after the Demons pulled the pin on their attempts to partner him with Gawn, Grundy fought like a ruck possessed in the Swans' 22-point victory - 12.14 (86) to 9.10 (64) - at the SCG on Thursday night.
Showing glimpses of his former All-Australian self, the one-year Demon shook off a bluebottle sting behind the ear and used his body well at the contest to score 22 disposals, nine clearances and 31 hitouts to settle the score.
"It was effing sore, man. It was so painful this morning," Grundy said of his ocean swim incident before the game.
"It's funny because I was like, 'there's lots of blue things around on the rocks here - I'll be right' and I jumped in.
"Maybe I should get stung more often."
The 29-year-old fell short of snatching a goal in his Swans debut while Gawn was kept to 15 disposals, two clearances and 39 hitouts in their personal duel.
"Max is an incredible, endurance athlete (but) it was less about Max," Grundy said.
"I've total respect for him as a player and Melbourne as a football club.
"It was just more about me being the best version of me.
"When I'm doing that, I'm competitive, I'm aggressive."
Recruited by Melbourne to work in tandem with Gawn, Grundy was ultimately dropped and missed out on a finals appearance last year after the Dees found they functioned better with Gawn as the sole ruckman.
His move to the harbour city came after the two-time All-Australian was initially squeezed out of Collingwood in 2022 because of salary cap pressure.
"It's a long road. The road will continue to stretch on," Grundy said.
"I just want to be me. Regardless of the wins, the losses, the ups and downs, I just want to want to come out here and feel like I play like Brodie Grundy.
"I think I did that."
Grundy wasn't the only Swan having a Thursday night reunion.
After impressing in the pre-season, former Demons midfielder James Jordon took 18 touches, seven tackles and three marks in his debut in the red and white.
The unused 2021 premiership substitute had moved interstate after failing to land a permanent spot in Simon Goodwin's best 22.
"I'm happy to play my role each week and I was lucky enough to get on the end of it (during pre-season)," Jordon said.
"I had a really strong pre-season and I'm taking that momentum."
