Griffin, 23, arrived at the Crows in 2004, but kept his heritage a secret for three years.
It wasn’t that he was ashamed of his background; he just didn’t know how people would react to an a-typical, pale-skinned, 202cm, ginger-haired Aboriginal.
“I’ve struggled to have a sense of belonging,” Griffin said in Darwin on Wednesday.
“Being white and black, it was sometimes difficult to come out and tell people who I was. Growing up, I was always a worried about showing people or bringing people back to my place because I didn’t know what their reaction would be.
“When I came to the club I kept quiet, but I knew in time they would find out.”
His heritage was revealed at the Crows’ 2006 Club Champion awards night.
Griffin’s grandfather James Rodney, who is of the Bibbulman people in the South-West of Australia, attended the ceremony and soon caught the attention of Johncock.
“Graham noticed my Pop in the crowd at the Club Champion awards. He didn’t know my Pop, but like all Aboriginal men they are close through the brotherhood and Graham just went up to him,” Griffin said.
“Graham asked Pop why he was there and my Pop said he was there for his grandson.
“Graham was like, ‘oh my god! Who is your grandson?’ and when Pop told him Graham was very shocked. Graham told Bunji [McLeod] and both of them came up to me and asked, ‘why didn’t you tell us earlier?’
“I said, ‘well, look at me’ and they understood.”
In Johncock, McLeod and his other Crows teammates, Griffin found the acceptance he’d sought his entire life.
And through the encouragement of senior coach Neil Craig he found the confidence to tell all to a crowded room of journalists in the lead-up to 2007 Indigenous Round.
“It’s been great for me to be able to come out and tell everyone who I am. It was actually Craigy’s idea to do that press conference. When he found out about my heritage, he thought it was a great idea,” Griffin said.
“After that day, I’ve just felt better about myself and I feel like I know who I am now. I guess I just needed that push along to do it.
“Craigy, Graham and Andrew have been a big influence on my career, not only on the field but also off it. They’ve helped me grow as a person and I’m very thankful.”
On Saturday night, Griffin will celebrate his new found sense of self when he lines up for the Indigenous All-Stars against his Adelaide teammates in Darwin.
And there’s one face he’ll be searching for in the TIO Stadium crowd.
Griffin ensured his grandfather, who was always a strong supporter of his AFL dream, would be there to cheer him on by paying for his flight to the top-end.
“For Pop and my mum to be there - because I lost my grandmother - it means a lot and I’m looking forward to playing well in front of them on Saturday,” Griffin said.
“Pop’s seen me play a couple of games in Perth and Adelaide and it’s been great for him to come and watch those games, but I just think this game is closer to us both.
“He lives his footy career with me and I just hope I play well for him. The game is a great chance to represent my family and show them that I know where I come from and that I am proud of it.
“It’s going to be a pretty important game for me.”
