Peter Grigg - My Redan Story

August 2016

 

 

Where did you grow up and what are some of your earliest footy memories and highlights?

 

I grew up in Linton and kicked the football in the street with cousins including Eugene Grigg who was a very successful player for Redan.

 

Did you play all your junior football with Carngham Linton and what were some of the highlights?

 

Winning the Under 16 premiership in 1976 was a highlight along with being runner up in the Best and Fairest that year. I played all my junior football with Carngham Linton.

 

What were the highlights of your senior career and were you lucky enough to play in a premiership?

 

I went straight from the Under 16’s to senior football and the biggest highlight would have been playing in the 1982 premiership – we didn’t lose a game that year.  

 

I was also playing coach of the reserves side in 1987 and Peter Britt was the playing coach of the senior side – both teams won the premiership that year.

 

Who were some the best players you played alongside and coaches that had the biggest influence on you?

 

Billy May, Eugene Grigg, Ian Mathews, Peter Britt, Greg Dax were all great players that I played with and Jim Rinaldi and Eugene Grigg were coaches who had a big influence on me.

 

Take us through how Shaun and Mark came to play with Redan and what were your initial impressions of the club?

We moved from Linton to Delacombe in 1998 and Mark went to St Pats and Shaun attended Urquhart Park Primary School and become friends with Tom Jess (Current Redan reserves coach) and Jeromy Johnston (current Redan player).  

 

Tom and Jeromy played for Redan juniors and we just went along to training.  First impression was the club was fairly run down with little equipment.

 

You coached the U/13 side in 2001 and U/14.5s the following season. What was the biggest difference in this role to coaching the reserves at Carngham Linton?

Never winning a game and trying to lift the club and get a committee up and going.

 

How did you find coaching your own sons and how difficult was it motivating the side which rarely won matches?

 

I really enjoyed coaching Shaun’s teams and being involved as a runner with Mark’s teams. It was difficult trying to motivate a side but we did try a few different things and I just tried to make training fun and enjoyable for the boys.

 

What was the most rewarding aspect of coaching junior football at Redan?

Seeing and helping the young boys develop and starting to get the club on track for the future. 

 

Who are some of the players you coached that have played in Senior Premierships at Redan or part of the senior side today?

 

Dean Mathews, Joel Mathews, Tom Jess, Jordy Baker and Jeromy Johnston.

 

You also spent time as club junior president, what were some of the achievements in that role which you are most proud of?

 

Getting the Club financial and obtaining good equipment including jumpers for all grades. Trying to improve parent involvement in the club and working with good committee members including John Jess, Leigh Bray and Mal Wright.

 

While most clubs have juniors and seniors at the one site, Redan's two bodies are geographically separated. Are there any advantages of this setup?

 

No should be as one.

 

In his My Redan Story interview, Shaun mentioned at 16 he really started to chase his AFL dream. Was there are particular game with Redan or the Rebels where you felt he would reach the elite level?

 

Shaun kicked 16 goals against Bacchus Marsh for Redan and played in Under 18 with Mark one day when he was 15 and kicked six goals. 

 

Shaun was one of six Rebels to be drafted in 2006 in a side coached by Gerard Fitzgerald in his first stint coaching the side. In what ways do you feel he helped with Shaun's development?

 

Gerard Fitzgerald is a great people person and has an unbelievable football brain and is a great teacher.  He helped the boys develop in all aspects of life really.
 

Take us through the excitement of draft night and hearing Shaun's name read out by Carlton and seeing him play his first match?

 

Draft day was very exciting, we only had immediate family listening on the radio as this is what Shaun wanted.  We weren’t that sure that he would get picked up so kept it low key.  

 

We actually thought Adelaide may have selected Shaun but was very pleased for him to go to Carlton.  We did have a celebration afterwards with lots of family and friends. 

His first game was a very nervous experience but also very exciting.  We attended the Presidents Lunch at the MCG and sat on Dick Pratt’s table.

 

What are your recollections of the trade to Richmond and can you describe the upheaval for the player and their family during this process?

 

Trade time was a difficult time, it ended up being a great result for Shaun and he has really thrived since moving to Tigers.  It was a huge move for Shaun both mentally and physically and we just tried to make sure we there to help in anything he needed.
 

What have been some of your greatest highlights watching Shaun over the years and do you see him getting into coaching after his AFL career is over?

 

All the milestones, first game, first goal, 50 games, 100 games and recently 150 games.  I believe he will coach somewhere after AFL.

 

What do you think are some of Damien Hardwick's strengths as a coach and the job the club has done in recent years to turn its fortunes around?

 

Damien Hardwick is a good people person and a good teacher.  The boys really respect him.  The Club is always striving to improve both on and off the field.

 

Mark also played a lot of football with the club, what were his highlights playing with Redan and has he played footy elsewhere since moving on?

 

Mark played in a winning Reserves premiership in 2008 – this was a huge highlight as he had hardly played in a winning team all through his junior years.  Mark was a very good club and team person and was always ready to help out around the club.
 

What have you made of the turnaround at Redan over the past two decades?

 

The turnaround has been unbelievable from where it was to where it is now.  All the old Redannies have helped immensely and bringing Brett Quinlan and Co to the club, I feel, got the club back on track.  It has been improving ever since. 
 

What are you up to these days and do you still get along to see Redan matches with your sons?

 

We try and watch Shaun (in person) every game and when the Richmond games don’t clash with Redan games we still attend the Redan games.  We also try and attend a few Redan social functions throughout the year.
 

What advice do you have for the boys and girls starting their football and netball careers at Redan?

 

Play with your mates/friends and enjoy it.