The GIANTS are delighted to announce that exciting young key forward Max Gruzewski has put pen to paper on a new two-year deal.
Originally out of contract at season’s end, Gruzewski bypassed rival interest to recommit to the club on a new deal which will see him remain a GIANT through until at least the end of the 2028 AFL season.
The new deal comes amid a career-best season for the promising 22-year-old, with Gruzewski having kicked a career-best 18 majors across his 13 games so far this season.
Taken with pick 22 in the 2022 National Draft, the talented tall forward has continued to develop strongly across the past four seasons where he’s upped both his games and goal tally in each successive campaign.
Drafted out of the Oakleigh Chargers, Gruzewski started his career at the GIANTS through the VFL side where he was quick to show his potential with a fantastic season in attack to finish his maiden campaign as the club’s second leading goalkicker in the VFL with 26 goals from 14 games.
Possessing strong hands and a nice kick for goal, Gruzewski broke through for his AFL debut in round 15,2024 in a Sydney Derby where he kicked two goals in a solid debut. He went on to play three more games across the final rounds of the 2024 season before adding seven more games and 10 goals to his name in 2025.
Named the club’s VFL Player of the Year last year, and named in the VFL Team of the Year, Gruzewski has since taken his game to a new level in 2026 to establish himself as a regular in Adam Kingsley’s forward line.
Still only 22 years old, Gruzewski helps shape an exciting crop of young forwards for the club’s future alongside the likes of Aaron Cadman, Darcy Jones, Phoenix Gothard, Joey Delana, and Riley Hamilton.
GIANTS Executive General Manager of Football, Jason McCartney, said it was great news for the club to lock away Gruzewski.
“It’s really exciting to be able to announce a new two-year deal for Max,” McCartney said.
“He’s already showing that he can be a valuable contributor as a 22-year-old key forward but the exciting thing is we still see a lot of growth left in his game.
“We have some really promising young pieces, particularly in our forward line, and it’s great to have secured Max’s signature as we continue to prepare for what we feel is going to be a really successful period for the club.”
Gruzewski’s new deal comes as the club prepares for an exciting AFL-AFLW double-header against the Eagles at ENGIE Stadium on Sunday.
