Shaun Grigg underlined his value to the Richmond side by taking on a vastly different role during last night’s clash with Collingwood at the MCG.

The 190cm, big-bodied, hard-running midfielder had some ruck responsibility thrust upon him late in the match, when Tiger ‘tall’ Ben Griffiths had to leave the field after landing heavily from a marking contest.

Grigg was required to give Richmond’s new No. 1 ruckman Toby Nankervis a chop-out – and he carried out the task in typically efficient style, providing solid opposition to the Magpie rucks at several boundary throw-ins and stoppages.

“It was a plan for me at three-quarter time to go in the ruck. It was a bit of a shock, but it doesn’t worry me,” Grigg told 3AW post-match.

“I’ll put my hand up to do anything that ‘Dimma’ (coach Damien Hardwick) wants and what the team needs . . . I don’t care.”  

The highlight of Grigg’s ruck stint was a crucial 50-metre goal he kicked midway through the final quarter after he cleverly exploited the AFL’s new ‘third-man-up’ ruling.

Grigg nominated himself to be the Tigers’ competing ruckman at a boundary throw-in contest, but then stood back and subsequently won a free kick, when confused Magpie opponent Brayden Maynard blocked his run at the ball.

He coolly slotted through his set-shot, from 50 metres out, to extend Richmond’s lead to 20 points.

“Obviously Collingwood weren’t on to it, and I was able to take advantage of it,” Grigg said.