Grigg earns his stripes with tips on how rival likes to play
IN preparation for what looms as a tight grand final, Geelong is scraping together any advantage it can, and that includes picking the brain of Shaun Grigg.
The former Tiger premiership player joined the Cats this season in a development role.
The utility retired midway through 2019 but was still part of the group that claimed Richmond’s second flag of this era.
He famously played as the second ruckman in 2017 and kicked a goal in Richmond’s breakthrough triumph.
Now Grigg’s intimate knowledge could make a difference for the Cats.
“I think Shaun’s experience as an AFL footballer and then having been at the Richmond Football Club is pretty handy,” Geelong’s Tom Hawkins said.
“Just the little intricacies of players and the way they play, what they might like or might not like as a defender.
“I am sure my teammates have sought him out through certain stages, as have no doubt the coaches.”
Knowing the intricacies of how a Richmond forward might like to lead or how they might turn on to a favoured foot could make all the difference for a defender such as Jake Kolodjashnij.
“‘Grigga’ has been super, he has been a great addition to our coaching panel,” Kolodjashnij said.
“The Tigers are clearly a really quality outfit so we will have to bring our best footy, but I think Grigga obviously has some good insight into how they want to play.”
To a man the Geelong playing group has loved the presence of Grigg this season.
His willingness to lift the mood at training and give a hand to the younger players as they slog away without VFL games has been crucial to the mood around the hub.
He also sits on the bench on game day to relay messages from the coaches to the players.
If he can help the Cats by one or 2 per cent, that will be a bonus for Gryan Miers.
“I think he has helped us immensely over the year, not just with the Richmond kind of things,” Miers said.
“Grigga has been massive with the development of the younger players and keeping the happiness in the group when times have been tough and he’s just been a good ally and a good footy brain.
“Hopefully he can help us along the way on the weekend.”