Shaun_Grigg

Shaun Grigg

Shaun Grigg

Australian rules footballer

Shaun Grigg (born 19 April 1988) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played 171 games for Richmond and 43 games for Carlton over a 13-year AFL career. He was a premiership player with Richmond in 2017, an Under 18 All Australian and twice placed in the top five in Richmond club best and fairests.

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Early life and junior football

Grigg grew up in the Victorian country town of Linton, 33 kilometres south-west of Ballarat.[2] He attended high school at St Patrick's College.[3] He was part of the school's First XVIII football side which won the coveted Herald Sun Shield in 2005. He played with Redan in his younger years before joining the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup. In 2006 he represented the Victorian Country side at the national Under 18 championships where he won All-Australian selection. At the 2006 AFL Draft Combine he recorded a top 10 time in the 20 metre sprint.[3]

AFL career

Carlton (2007-2010)

Grigg was selected by Carlton with the club's second pick and the 19th overall in the 2006 AFL National draft.[3]

He suffered a shoulder injury early in the 2007 season and struggled as a result. He played matches early in the season with Carlton's VFL-affiliate, the Northern Bullants. Grigg made his AFL debut against Melbourne in Round 14, 2007 and played a total of 5 games for the season.[4]

Grigg earned a regular position in the Carlton team throughout 2008, playing 20 senior games and receiving a nomination for the NAB Rising Star award in Round 19.[5] He kicked his first career goal in Round 4, 2008 in a match against Collingwood.[6]

Over the next two seasons however, Grigg struggled to play regularly in the senior side, playing only a combined total of 18 games for the club.[4]

In October 2010 Grigg asked to be traded from the Carlton Football Club with Richmond his desired trade destination. He cited a desire for greater on-field opportunities as his key reason for seeking the move.[7] A deal was finalised eight days later, with Grigg involved in a straight swap for Tigers' midfielder Andrew Collins.[8][9] He had played 43 games for the club over his four-year tenure.

Richmond (2011-2019)

Grigg made his debut for Richmond in Round 1 of the 2011 season in a match against his former club Carlton at the MCG.[10] He finished his first season at Richmond having played 21 games and recording an average of 22 disposals per game.[4] It was a then-career best year in all major statistical categories including total disposals, marks, tackles and goals.[4]

In 2012 Grigg was one of the most improved players in the league.[11] He kicked a career-best three goals in a Round 7 clash with Sydney.[12] He played all 22 matches that season and recorded a career best 561 disposals, good for fourth best at the club. He finished in fifth place in the club'sbest & fairest award, receiving the Kevin Bartlett Medal for his efforts.[13] Grigg also polled a career best 11 votes in the Brownlow Medal, placing third at the club that season.[14]

He would again play all possible matches in 2013, including a role in his first final at Richmond; a loss against former club Carlton. He polled 5 votes in the Brownlow medal count that year, placing equal fifth of all Richmond players that season.[4][15]

2014 saw Grigg's first injury affected season at Richmond. After playing in the club's first 10 matches, he went on to miss the next eight due to a hamstring injury sustained in a Round 11 match-up with Essendon.[16][17] He again played in the club's finals campaign, kicking a goal in an elimination final defeat at the hands of Port Adelaide.[18] Grigg played as a tagger for much of the season.[19] He finished the season having played 15 games, his lowest total in his time at Richmond.[4]

Grigg during the 2017 AFL Grand Final parade

In 2015 Grigg would return to form, playing in all possible matches for the third time in four seasons. As a contested-ball player, he led the club for tackles that year, with a career-best total of 98 across 23 matches.[20][21][22] His performance in Round 15 was particularly praiseworthy, with Grigg picking up the second-most coaches votes of any Tiger for his 25 disposal and seven clearance effort.[23] He played his 100th match for Richmond that year, in a Round 20 match against Gold Coast.[20]

Grigg played parts of the 2016 season in a new role as an inside midfielder.[24] In the 2016 pre-season Grigg suffered a fractured left thumb.[25] He defied initial expectations to return to fitness for the club's Round 2 match against Collingwood, missing just one match in the process.[26] Grigg recorded a career-high 38 disposals in Richmond's Round 11 loss to North Melbourne.[27] He went on to play in a total of 20 matches that season.[4] Grigg earned his second Kevin Bartlett Medal in 2016, after placing fourth at the club for disposals, tackles and clearances as well as second in inside 50 entries.[28][29]

In 2017, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick labelled Grigg the smartest footballer at Richmond, noting his ability to 'read the game' a fraction faster than others.[30] By that season he was the oldest player in Richmond's regular AFL team and the second oldest contracted player at the club behind only Ivan Maric.[31]

Grigg suffered a hamstring strain in the lead-up to round 7, 2018 and missed that match as a result.[32] He was considered a "touch and go" chance to play the following week but ultimately missed his second straight match.[33][34] He made his return in round 9, called up as a late-replacement for first-year forward Jack Higgins.[35]

On 14 May 2019, Grigg announced his immediate retirement from AFL football, having failed to play a match at any level that season due to persistent knee and hip injures.[36] His decision to retire mid-season allowed Richmond a list spot to use at the 2019 mid-season rookie draft, which was used to recruit eventual 2019 premiership player Marlion Pickett.[37][38]

He concluded his career having played 214 AFL matches.[4]

Coaching career

In October 2019, Grigg joined the Geelong Football Club coaching panel as a development coach.[39][40]

Statistics

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
More information Season, Team ...

Representative career

In 2011 Grigg was a member of the Australian squad for a two match International rules series against Ireland and played two matches.[42][43]

Honours and achievements

Team

Individual

Junior

  • U-18 All-Australian: 2006

Personal life

Grigg is married to wife Sarah. The couple had their first child, Sonny, in June 2014.[16] They had a second son, Spencer Leigh, in December 2017.[44]

He is a part-owner in multiple SpudBar franchise restaurants.[45]

References

  1. [1]
    "Deledio goes from strength to strength". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  2. [2]
    Marshall, Konrad (15 November 2016). Yellow & Black: A Season with Richmond. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Slattery Media Group. p. 187. ISBN 9780987342898.
  3. [3]
    Morgan, Angus (29 December 2006). "Blues a top gig for Grigg". Carlton FC. Bigpond. Retrieved 3 March 2007.
  4. [4]
    "Shaun Grigg Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  5. [5]
    NAB AFL Rising Star: round 19 Archived 15 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  6. [6]
    "Round 4 2008 – Carlton vs Collingwood". AFL Tables. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  7. [7]
    Gleeson, Michael (1 October 2010). "Grigg walks out on Blues". The Age. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  8. [8]
    "Carlton swap Shaun Grigg for Richmond's Andrew Collins". The Australian. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  9. [9]
    Carlton swap Richmond Grigg for Collins
  10. [10]
    Matthews, Bruce (24 March 2011). "Richmond and Carlton to debut draftees". Herald Sun. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  11. [11]
    Green, Warwick (13 May 2012). "Fast start sets up Richmond victory". Herald Sun. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  12. [12]
    "Round 7 2012 – Richmond vs Sydney". AFL Tables. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  13. [13]
    "Trent Cotchin wins second Jack Dyer Medal as Richmond best-and-fairest". Herald Sun. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  14. [14]
    "2011 Brownlow Medal". AFL Tables. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  15. [15]
    "2013 Brownlow Medal". AFL Tables. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  16. [16]
    "Grigg gears up for return". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  17. [17]
    "Grigg, Morris return". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  18. [18]
    "Elimination Final 2014 – Port Adelaide vs Richmond". AFL Tables. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  19. [19]
    "Grigg grows in new role". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  20. [20]
    "Grigg back to his reliable best". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  21. [21]
    "2015 Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  22. [22]
    "Grigg goes back inside". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  23. [23]
    "Rance reward for excellence". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  24. [24]
    Marshall, Konrad (15 November 2016). Yellow & Black: A Season with Richmond. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Slattery Media Group. p. 184. ISBN 9780987342898.
  25. [25]
    Cahill, Georgina (16 March 2016). "Grigg eyes off early return". Richmond FC. Bigpond. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  26. [26]
    "Round 2 2016 – Collingwood vs Richmond". AFL Tables. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  27. [27]
    "Round 11 2016 – North Melbourne vs Richmond". AFL Tables. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  28. [28]
    Greenberg, Tony (8 September 2016). "Dusty's Jack Triumph". Richmond FC. Bigpond. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  29. [29]
    "2016 Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  30. [30]
    Marshall, Konrad (15 November 2016). Yellow & Black: A Season with Richmond. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Slattery Media Group. p. 182. ISBN 9780987342898.
  31. [31]
    Marshall, Konrad (15 November 2016). Yellow & Black: A Season with Richmond. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Slattery Media Group. p. 186. ISBN 9780987342898.
  32. [32]
    "Tough Tiger Grigg sidelined for AFL clash". SBS.com.au. SBS. AAP. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  33. [33]
    Navaratnam, Dinny (11 May 2018). "Injured Tigers mid paying for late start". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  34. [34]
    "AFL Teams, Round 8: Full squads, team lists, ins, outs, injuries, benches and SuperCoach news". Fox Sports. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  35. [35]
    "Grigg comes in for Eagles clash". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  36. [36]
    "Grigg calls time". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  37. [37]
    "AFL grand final: Richmond's Shaun Grigg sacrificed his career so Marlion Pickett could launch his". ABC News. AAP. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  38. [38]
    "If not for Shaun Grigg's mid-season retirement, Marlion Pickett wouldn't be playing on GF day". Fox Sports. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  39. [39]
    Whiting, Michael (2 October 2019). "Flag Tiger heads down the highway to start coaching career". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  40. [40]
    Robinson, Mark (23 October 2019). "When Geelong secured Shaun Grigg as a development coach, the Cats also picked up a whole bunch of intelligence on the Tigers". Herald Sun. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  41. [41]
    "Shaun Grigg". AFL Tables. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  42. [42]
    Witham, Jennifer (14 October 2011). "Cool Cats lead young Aussies". Archived from the original on 20 October 2011.
  43. [43]
    "Australia v Ireland since 1967". FootyStats. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  44. [44]
    @shaungrigg6 (28 December 2017). "Welcome to the world Spencer Leigh Grigg. Both mum and the little fella are doing well" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  45. [45]
    "GRIGG TURNS SPUDS INTO BUSINESS SUCCESS". AFL Players Association. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
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