A decade ago, then Geelong assistant coach Brendan McCartney, a highly-respected figure in AFL football, declared to a Richmond official that the Tigers had the next Matthew Scarlett on their playing list.
The player McCartney referred to was Dylan Grimes who, at the time, had just a handful of senior league games’ experience for Richmond under his belt.
That bold declaration by McCartney (subsequently senior coach of the Western Bulldogs), has proven to be on the money.
Grimes, who reaches the AFL 200-game milestone in the Tigers’ Round 13 clash with Port Adelaide at the MCG on Thursday night, has been regarded as one of the elite defenders of the competition for several years now.
He is a Richmond triple premiership hero, a Jack Dyer Medallist, an All-Australian representative, and the team’s co-captain this season.
His ability to play on small or tall opposition forwards, negate them with ultra-tight defensive effort, as well as help launch attacks for the team through first-rate intercept work, has been pivotal for the Tigers.
What makes the 200-game milestone for Grimes even more meritorious is the hardship he endured early in his AFL career.
Grimes, who was Richmond’s first pick (No. 2 overall) in the AFL pre-season draft at the end of 2009, made his senior debut with the Tigers in the final home-and-away round of the 2010 season against Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium.
For the next three years, however, he was plagued with injuries, predominantly hamstring trouble.
From 2011-13, Grimes managed to play just 25 out of a possible 67 senior games for Richmond.
Eventually he was able to overcome his hamstring issues and become the Scarlett-like star defender McCartney predicted he would be.
He played a key role in the Tigers’ drought-breaking 2017 premiership triumph, and his value within the line-up further increased after that when outstanding key defender Alex Rance was initially sidelined due to a serious knee injury and later retired.
Grimes took over as the leader of Richmond’s defence from Rance and he’s handled the added responsibility with aplomb, providing strong guidance to his backline teammates in the back-to-back premierships of 2019-20.
That fine leadership continues to this day, Grimes now sharing captaincy duties at Tigerland with Toby Nankervis after triple premiership skipper Trent Cotchin stood down from the position at the end of last season.
From the pre-season draft, through to frustrating stints on the sidelines, and then being able to produce top-class performances in Richmond’s defence, it’s been quite the football journey for Dylan Grimes along the path to the 200-game milestone.
Through it all, he has displayed an exemplary work ethic, a steely resolve, and an unwavering dedication to doing whatever he can to help the Tigers succeed.
