COLLINGWOOD ruck Brodie Grundy says the rags-to-riches tales within his AFL club should win over the hearts of neutrals ahead of Saturday’s grand final.

That’s Collingwood, the biggest club in Australia, and the most hated club in Australia.

As fans ponder where their allegiances might lie in their clash with West Coast, Grundy has put forward a compelling case for the Magpies.

“There are so many stories, it just depends where you want to look,” Grundy said.

“Tyson (Goldsack). Adam Treloar. Travis Varcoe - what he’s gone through.

“The story of the footy club itself. Nathan Buckley and the scrutiny he was under.

“Steele Sidebottom. The year that he’s had.

“It’s amazing to be a part of.”

Grundy’s pro-Pies shopping list certainly takes some beating.

Goldsack suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in March, an injury that usually comes with a 10-12 month layoff.

Instead, the 31-year-old returned after just six months and could cap his career with a second premiership.

Adam Treloar is another good-news injury story, having recovered from a rare double hamstring strain on the eve of the AFL finals.

The death of Varcoe’s sister Maggie earlier this month - from an incident while playing football in South Australia - flavours Collingwood’s story with heartbreak.

The Magpie forward has played through the tragedy, saying taking his place in the team has grounded him through the grief.

“It shook us up and no one more than Travis,” Grundy said.

“The message that Travis sent to the group is that it happened with her doing something that she loved.

“The way he’s coped with it and his resilience ... it gave the group real strength.”

Buckley has also enjoyed warm support this season after masterminding the club’s run to the finals.

The Pies hadn’t finished higher than 11th for four seasons until this year, and contemplated sacking Buckley 12 months ago.

But the club’s favourite son out-did Richmond boss Damien Hardwick in their preliminary final showdown to earn his first grand final berth as a coach.

Sidebottom has enjoyed a banner year in his ninth season and may well be having the best finals series in recent memory.

And the story that Grundy didn’t mention is possibly the most special.

That’s Mason Cox, the towering Texan who almost single-handedly ripped reigning premiers Richmond apart in their preliminary final on Friday night.

Grundy said his remarkable story would be worthy of a premiership.

“What we love him for is he thinks a lot broader than just football,” he said.

“When he came here, he didn’t know whether he was going to play a game.

“I saw all the extra work that he did. I’m not surprised at the player that he’s become.

“He deserves every success.”