Legend Grant hopes to teach new Dogs old tricks

[BulldogBelle]

How good is this, Chris Grant is back at the kennel.....

Legend Grant hopes to teach new Dogs old tricks (http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/legend-grant-hopes-to-teach-new-dogs-old-tricks-20091201-k3rq.html)
The Age | Andrea Petrie | December 2, 2009

FORMER Western Bulldogs' great Chris Grant is returning to the Whitten Oval as part of the premiership-starved club's latest weapon to try to reach - and win - an AFL grand final.

Grant, who booted 554 goals in 341 games for the Bulldogs between 1990 and 2007, has agreed to return to work with young, developing players.

Grant confirmed last night he would take up a position as a mentor to several key position players, including Tom Williams, Ayce Cordy, Andrejs Everett, Jordan Roughead and Jarred Grant among others. He will also work alongside the club's assistant coaches one day a week to help the key-position players work on areas such as marking and body positioning.

''It'll be guys who will potentially play in the forward line or potentially play in the back line who I'll be helping out and the guys who we need to put a bit of body work into,'' Grant said.

''It should be good and I'm really looking forward to it. I would have liked to have done it last year but time restrictions meant that I couldn't really commit to it. This year, Rocket [coach Rodney Eade] was really keen on it and [assistant coach] Leon Cameron, who helps oversee the development of all the younger players, was also really keen, so I am thrilled to be able to help out.''

Grant said he was especially looking forward to returning to the inner sanctum of the club.

Click HERE (http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/legend-grant-hopes-to-teach-new-dogs-old-tricks-20091201-k3rq.html) to read the remainder of the article...

[hujsh]

No one can say they don't get a big smile on their face when they read this article.

Great that he's back.

[mighty_west]

Brilliant news, awesome to see the great man return.

[LostDoggy]

That is great news, now for S West to come badk.

[Topdog]

No one can say they don't get a big smile on their face when they read this article.

Great that he's back.

Exactly. Great news.

[chef]

This is going to do wonders for Cordy, Roughead, Jones, Grant, Boumann, Mulligan, Markovic, Williams, Minson and Everitt.

[LostDoggy]

What awesome news to wake up to....Welcome back Turtle...

[Bulldog Revolution]

Hard to imagine those kids wouldnt benefit from working with Grant

[Go_Dogs]

Great news to have Granty back at the club :)

[Bulldog4life]

No one can say they don't get a big smile on their face when they read this article.

Great that he's back.

Even a tear in the eye.:)

[LostDoggy]

No one can say they don't get a big smile on their face when they read this article.

Great that he's back.

I had a rather big something else when I heard the news... And a tear in the eye at the same time.

[LongWait]

Happy days!

[bornadog]

Chris needed the time off from football to have a break, and now he has the hunger back. Its a great move and the talls are going to really benefit from this.

[angelopetraglia]

Made by morning reading this. Fantastic news.

[brilliantgriffen]

Best news I have heard in a while. Welcome back Turtle!

[alwaysadog]

Great news and covers what has always seemed a gap in our coaching repertoire; someone to specifically look after the developing KPPs.

He won't be able to turn them into legends like himself but he's always so positive and stable that they'll let get the best advice and support.

A terrific appointment - welcome back.

[comrade]

I had a rather big something else when I heard the news... And a tear in the eye at the same time.

Which eye? :)

[Cyberdoggie]

Great news,

The clubs greatest player is back.

That can only be a good omen.

[lemmon]

Replacing Schwarz? Who gives a toss, welcome back big fella, about time as well.

[LostDoggy]

Great news for all those "young guns" to have such a club ledgend as a mentor! Well don Doggies:)

[Max469]

This has made my day.

This is what we needed.

Welcome back Great Man.


:D:D:D

[Axe Man]

Perhaps he can work with Big Bad Bazza on his behind the play fist positioning.

[LostDoggy]

Had a pretty average day..that brought a big smile to my face..like this: :D

[EasternWest]

Geez, who doesn't love Chris Grant?

[The Coon Dog]

Geez, who doesn't love Chris Grant?
That rotten bastard Ian effin Collins!

[aker39]

Here's a podcast of his interview on SEN today

http://www.sportsentral.com/pro/main/Podcasts.aspx

Click on Hungry for Sport, then Chris Grant

[LostDoggy]

Awesome to have one of the greats back at the club. Absolutly awesome news. All we need now is Westy to come back as an assistant and well be laughing.

[comrade]

Replacing Schwarz? Who gives a toss, welcome back big fella, about time as well.

Turtle >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ox

[EasternWest]

That rotten bastard Ian effin Collins!

That name is a dirtier word in my house than the C. bomb.

[ratsmac]

I saw Granty at indoor footy about 3 weeks ago and he told me this very news. I thought he was already doing this as a casual thing, I wasn't aware that I had inside information. This is why I'm a carpenter and not a journalist :) Sorry guys I didn't even think of letting WOOF in on the latest scoop. My bad.

[bulldog]

This is great news welcome back Granty
I honestly love this man

[strebla]

So happy i could dance the mighty Bulldogs have never ever had a bigger off season I love it (beside the fact that Coon Dog mentioned the C word)

[LostDoggy]

No one can say they don't get a big smile on their face when they read this article.

Great that he's back.

Spot on, massive smile :D

[comrade]

The great man has returned.

In 2010, there are no excuses.

[Rocco Jones]

Just another poster who is absolutely rapt with the news.

Great player and a great man.

[lemmon]

Turtle >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ox

I wasnt comparing the two, I was just wondering if that was what in fact had happened. Comparisons would be pretty unfair on big Oxy ;)

[BulldogBelle]

Legend is the key word

Wish we had a 27 year old C.Grant running around for us in 2010 though

[BulldogBelle]

Wish we had a 27 year old C.Grant running around for us in 2010 though

Yes, I would love that also - but at least he is back in some capacity...that's enough for me. It will be good for him and the club! :)

[Remi Moses]

Always great to have the 1997 brownlow medalist back at the club

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Funny, I was only talking to my father about Grant the other day. I wondered why he hadn't really been around the club much but it's absolutely fantastic news that he's going to be back in some capacity.

Having Hall and Grant educating our young KPP's is going to be invaluable.

[hujsh]

I had an argument with my Dad about how much use Grant will be. His argument was basically a champion is a champion and Grant won't change these guy's paths much believing aspects like bodywork can be learnt through game experience or naturally. I said he was jealous cause if his club tried bringing back their former champ they's end up with a bunch drug dealers.

Does everyone agree that this should improve our young blokes chances of success significantly?

[AndrewP6]

I had an argument with my Dad about how much use Grant will be. His argument was basically a champion is a champion and Grant won't change these guy's paths much believing aspects like bodywork can be learnt through game experience or naturally. I said he was jealous cause if his club tried bringing back their former champ they's end up with a bunch drug dealers.

Does everyone agree that this should improve our young blokes chances of success significantly?

IMO, he'll certainly help them, but I'm not sure he'll be a deciding factor in their fortunes. The raw talent/understanding has to be there in the first place, I reckon. He could help someone blossom, though.

Nice to see the champ reuniting with the Dogs.

[hujsh]

IMO, he'll certainly help them, but I'm not sure he'll be a deciding factor in their fortunes. The raw talent/understanding has to be there in the first place, I reckon. He could help someone blossom, though.

Personally I think a guy like Everitt is exactly who Grant need to teach and with his help is a lot more likely to be a good player.

[Swoop]

A lot of it may simply be confidence the young player gets knowing he is being taught by such a champion of the game. Sometimes for a player like Everitt confidence and belief could be the only thing holding them back from becoming a quality AFL player. Grant is also a fine role model off the field which is just as important for these young kids.

[LostDoggy]

Wooo hooo!! Welcome back Granty. :)

[Go_Dogs]

I think all our young KP's should watch a highlights package of Granty's career. Possibly quite a few of them would have been way to young and not seen the man in his prime, how tough and talented he was.

[LongWait]

I think all our young KP's should watch a highlights package of Granty's career. Possibly quite a few of them would have been way to young and not seen the man in his prime, how tough and talented he was.

To see the way Grant worked hard to change from a skinny ragdoll to Roger Ramjet would also be instructive for the young talls. As a skinny ragdoll 17year old he was able to kick 50 goals, so he clearly has a lot he can teach younger physically immature players how to use their natural talents while they build up their bodies.

[LostDoggy]

Grant come back to make sure that his number 3 is a SUCCESS!

[ronmcd]

Great to have Granty back for the young developing players. Tears in every eye at the thought of it!