All things Jack Grimes - 2013 edition

[Tulip]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/tea...-and-he-knows-it/story-e6frf9mf-1226609559875

FRANK Grimes was a character on The Simpsons who had to struggle for everything he got.

But he also had a huge work ethic, attention to detail and he made a successful return to work from injury.Fastidious and neat, Grimes even had a personalised diet and embossed stationery.
Sound familiar?

Jack Grimes isn't called "Frank" by his Melbourne teammates simply because he shares the same surname as a cartoon character. This is a nickname that goes beyond cheap laughs in the corridors of AAMI Park.

The young Demons co-captain admits he's "different" and it's difficult to blame him.

Beneath a relaxed and forthcoming demeanour lies a burning determination to leave nothing to chance.
A nightmare run of injuries -- back, groin, hip, navicular -- resulting in only 32 games in four seasons will do that to a player, let alone one bestowed with the honour of captaining the oldest club in the game.
"The boys joke about me a little bit that I never leave the club and that I'm there too long doing little things," Grimes said this week.

"I feel like the injuries have made me like that. If something happens with my body again - and touch wood it doesn't - I won't be asking myself, 'Did I do everything right?' I just want to make sure I tick every box to give myself the best chance."

The 22-year-old is the first to arrive at training and on game day to start a ritual that has helped turn his career around.
"I have a routine with massage and physio, but also basic exercises and activation things and a little loosening up routine with a cricket ball, sitting on it and stuff," Grimes said.
"It's a bit embarrassing. I probably do it a bit too much. I just don't want to sit around and waste any time. I know I'm different.

"Some guys want to laugh and have a joke around and that's fine, but if I'm there I want to use it to do something to help me.
"I feel like it's a routine that's worked for me. Some guys are lucky and don't need that, but I feel I have to and I want to."

Grimes arrived at Melbourne in late 2007 as a first-round draft pick with chronic back problems. There was too much movement in his hips, which caused stress on his back and all sorts of biomechanic restructuring was required to correct running, walking and posture positions.

Then came the hip and hamstring issues before the foot stress fracture in 2011 that scared the life out of him.
"The back was bad, I probably missed the most footy with that, but the navicular was scary because of what you hear about them ending careers if they're treated the wrong way," Grimes said.

"When I came back I just expected something was going to go wrong, like it just didn't feel right. It took me a while to feel confident."

The irony is that in 2012 -- Melbourne's year from hell -- and with Grimes entrusted with the captaincy along with Jack Trengove, he finally strung games together in the most productive season of his career.
With the Demons engulfed by all manner of controversy off the field and their new captains dealing with situations that would have pushed a veteran skipper to the limit, Grimes played 21 games and finished runner-up in the best and fairest.

He could be forgiven for thinking he had copped a rougher end of the stick than most, but Grimes doesn't seek pity.
"Looking back, it sounds funny, but I'm almost glad I went through it because it has made me the person and captain I am today," he said.

'I FEEL like I don't take anything for granted anymore and I cherish every session. I do everything I possibly can to keep myself out there in terms of recovery and getting myself up for training and games.

"It was just great to have some continuity. It gave me so much confidence going into this pre-season because I knew my body was actually able to play AFL footy. I'd had my doubts before.

"My aim at the start of last season was just to get through a season."
It meant his relationship with first-year coach Mark Neeld also blossomed.
"Obviously, we went through a bit together last year and if anything it brought us closer and I feel like he has a really good relationship with the leadership group," he said.

"From day one he came in and said his plan and how he was going to go about things and everything that he and the club went through he never deviated from it."
Grimes is one of eight siblings who grew up in Diamond Creek. He now lives in Templestowe with girlfriend Jayde.
They met when Grimes was 17 and she was 16, but not even his childhood sweetheart can compromise the Frank-like routine.

"She sleeps in the spare room a night before a game. I don't even have to ask her these days, she just jumps in there," he said.
"We're coming up to seven years this year. She's done well putting up with me. I vent to her a little bit after a tough loss, but she's always there for me."

On Grimes' rare moments away from the club, there's no swag of interests or hobbies to take up his time -- just moments with family and friends.

"Away from footy . . . I just spend a lot of time with mates and my family," Grimes said.

"The life of an AFL footballer these days is pretty full-on, there's not that much time. We have this stereotype that we're sitting around at home playing PlayStation all the time."

But Grimes wants to create a new stereotype -- the player who leaves nothing to chance.

 

[melbournemartin]

Why can't we have more like him?

 

[RedLegs#5]

Why can't we have more like him?

As I've said, him, Viney, Clark and a few others will eventually lead us to a more successful future. They need help though. And now.

 

[Tulip]

As I've said, him, Viney, Clark and a few others will eventually lead us to a more successful future. They need help though. And now.

Dasher Rodan, Shagga Byrnes and Squib Pedersen are clearly the answer.

 

[RedLegs#5]

Dasher Rodan, Shagga Byrnes and Squib Pedersen are clearly the answer.

Yeah. Give them a chance...but yes, they very well might be a bit useless (on field anyway). I actually thought Byrnes did some good things yesterday. Plus all three tried harder than players like Sylvia and Watts (admittedly Watts said he was shit in the game).

I would go higher than the players though. Is our fitness still shit? Why is Brian Royal still our midfield coach? Guidance and unity is needed right now.

 

[Blackas87]

the boys have to stop laughing and start joining him.

 

[Bluelegs]

Yeah. Give them a chance...but yes, they very well might be a bit useless (on field anyway). I actually thought Byrnes did some good things yesterday. Plus all three tried harder than players like Sylvia and Watts (admittedly Watts said he was shit in the game).

I would go higher than the players though. Is our fitness still shit? Why is Brian Royal still our midfield coach? Guidance and unity is needed right now.

Our fitness is fine. It's not our fitnesses fault the players were squibing at contests, giving port players space, and ball watching, jogging to contests five metres away. If the players were so unfit that it forced them to make stupid mistakes and remain unaccountable then they would have the equivalent fitness of 22 blokes you'll find in a local pub.

 

[Crusty Demon]

the boys have to stop laughing and start joining him.

My exact thought after reading this. Jack's obviously putting in a heap of time at the club to get the best out of himself, and the other players are laughing and making jokes of it!!! Things that make you go Hmmmm...

 

[Jamurp]

The reference to Frank Grimes is a bit cringe.

 

[Headless]

The reference to Frank Grimes is a bit cringe.

How is ol' Grimey?

 

[Jamurp]

How is ol' Grimey?

Frank Grimes or 'Grimey', as he liked to be called.

 

[wowlace]

You guys remember Grimes dies at the end of the episode?

 

[Syrus]

You guys remember Grimes dies at the end of the episode?

But at least he tried.

 

[Tulip]

But at least he tried.

His son made a cameo, no?

 

[PureFooty]

The moral of the story, Melbourne is like The Simpsons...

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

 

[hoddo]

The moral of the story, Melbourne is like The Simpsons...

Yellow, out of ideas and not funny any more? Yep that sounds like the Melbourne we saw on Sunday.

 

[RandB]

Yellow, out of ideas and not funny any more? Yep that sounds like the Melbourne we saw on Sunday.

...and our players mark & handball the footy like their hands have one less finger.

 

[Jamurp]

The similarities between Jack Grimes and Frank Grimes are endless, though I won't go into any with detail.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

Stolen shamelessly from "DeeZee" on Demonland, hope he doesn't mind.

(Stuff like this is one of the few reasons I browse D'land every now and again)

Something I thought I would share, which gave me a bit more hope.

My son's footy coach who is also a Dees supporter and whose 12 year old son plays with mine, was so upset about last week's loss he wrote a letter to the club.

In the letter he stated that his son was so frustrated and angry at his father for making him a Dees supporter, because they suck so badly.

The father said that he understood, and that he could barrack for whoever he wanted.

The kid said it was too late for that now (cute), but he hated how he couldn't even think of a Demon whose number he was prepared to put on his guernsey. When he thought of his favorite players they were Gary Ablett, Buddy Franklin, Chris Judd etc ... (this was all in the letter).

Not only did my friend get a reply, but today Jack Grimes himself rang the boy.

He said that the players had got together and made a firm promise to each other that they would never play like that again; that although they will still lose some games because they are developing, they never will put in another performance like that, and will try their guts out every game from now on.

Needless to say little Alastair now wants to adorn his jumper with the number 31.

Grimes told the father that they don't reply to many letters but thought this one had a special message.

He also said that it was shown to the playing group, and when he heard it Grimesey wanted to ring the kid immediately.

Funnily enough the first thing I thought was.... didn't the players say a similar thing after the loss against Sydney in 2012???!?

In fairness I don't think they had another 'lay down' performance for the season... will be interesting to see if this promise is taken seriously.

Ultimately I shared this story because it brought a smile to my face - something that Demons news rarely brings me these days.

 

[Tulip]

Grimey's our captain, and I think he needs to be our only captain.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

Grimey's our captain, and I think he needs to be our only captain.

I wonder to what extent the inexperience of Grimes and Trengove caused Neeld to appoint co-captains?

 

[Captain Jack]

That's what we need to hear. As you said, pretty sure they made a similar pact after the Sydney game last year, but hey, half the team has changed since then.

 

[Tulip]

I wonder what extent the inexperience of Grimes and Trengove caused Neeld to appoint co-captains?

The way I've always seen it is that: Grimes' injuries meant that there was no guarantee he would be a consistent captain, whilst Trengove was too young to appoint as captain off the bat.

I still maintain that one will drop out at the end of the year and, providing fitness, that will be Trengove.

 

[thurmanmunson]

Why was the kid angry at his dad?? Weird.