TonyK
CibbuanoGrant one of the best: Laidley
August 26th 2008 05:55
NORTH MELBOURNE coach Dean Laidley has described retiring veteran Shannon Grant as the club's second-greatest match-winner of the modern era.
Grant, who will play his 300th game this weekend against Port Adelaide at the MCG, revealed on Tuesday he will retire at the end of the season.
He began his career in Sydney and played for the Swans against North Melbourne in the 1996 grand final before being traded to the Kangaroos at the end of 1997.
Grant, who has booted 357 goals in 299 games, won the Norm Smith Medal after booting four goals in the Roos' grand final win in 1999.
Laidley praised Grant for his contribution to the club over the past decade, saying the 31-year-old had won several games for the club off his own boot.
"I have said this openly before that take Wayne Carey out of the picture and this guy sitting next to me (Grant) has won more games off his own boot (for North Melbourne) than anyone else," Laidley said.
"He has done everything in footy, apart from win a Brownlow Medal - and that speaks volumes for his actions on the field but also the work he has done off the field as well."
Grant admitted he has always prided himself on his ability to perform on the big stage but said he was embarassed at being compared to Carey, who is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
"You do look back with pride (at his big game reputation) but in the same breath you get a bit embarrassed being compared to Wayne Carey as a footballer," he said.
"But it's certainly something that when you set out to play (AFL) you want to play well in the big games and you want to play finals footy and if you are not playing for that reason you might as well give the game away."
Grant said he is looking forward to finishing his career on a positive note.
"I am looking forward to a big few weeks ahead," Grant said.
"I always wanted to go out on my terms and I don't think there is anything worse than going on that extra year or two and running around in the VFL."
"That is certainly something I didn't want to do and I think when you have enough time to think about (retiring) you know when the time is right and I knew the time had come
He also said there is plenty to like about the club's future.
"There is a lot of potential here, a lot of good youngsters coming through and when we are up and about we can play some decent footy," he said.
"This side is a lot younger (than the side he walked into in 1998) so there is a lot more scope for improvement in the group so you would hope that potential will be fulfilled down the track."
Grant, who will play his 300th game this weekend against Port Adelaide at the MCG, revealed on Tuesday he will retire at the end of the season.
He began his career in Sydney and played for the Swans against North Melbourne in the 1996 grand final before being traded to the Kangaroos at the end of 1997.
Grant, who has booted 357 goals in 299 games, won the Norm Smith Medal after booting four goals in the Roos' grand final win in 1999.
Laidley praised Grant for his contribution to the club over the past decade, saying the 31-year-old had won several games for the club off his own boot.
"I have said this openly before that take Wayne Carey out of the picture and this guy sitting next to me (Grant) has won more games off his own boot (for North Melbourne) than anyone else," Laidley said.
"He has done everything in footy, apart from win a Brownlow Medal - and that speaks volumes for his actions on the field but also the work he has done off the field as well."
Grant admitted he has always prided himself on his ability to perform on the big stage but said he was embarassed at being compared to Carey, who is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
"You do look back with pride (at his big game reputation) but in the same breath you get a bit embarrassed being compared to Wayne Carey as a footballer," he said.
"But it's certainly something that when you set out to play (AFL) you want to play well in the big games and you want to play finals footy and if you are not playing for that reason you might as well give the game away."
Grant said he is looking forward to finishing his career on a positive note.
"I am looking forward to a big few weeks ahead," Grant said.
"I always wanted to go out on my terms and I don't think there is anything worse than going on that extra year or two and running around in the VFL."
"That is certainly something I didn't want to do and I think when you have enough time to think about (retiring) you know when the time is right and I knew the time had come
He also said there is plenty to like about the club's future.
"There is a lot of potential here, a lot of good youngsters coming through and when we are up and about we can play some decent footy," he said.
"This side is a lot younger (than the side he walked into in 1998) so there is a lot more scope for improvement in the group so you would hope that potential will be fulfilled down the track."
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