Grant reflects on career

RETIRING North Melbourne great Shannon Grant says his side’s inability to fight when the crunch came was the most disappointing aspect of his final game of AFL football.

Grant, like many in the footy world, had believed just a couple of weeks ago the Kangaroos were destined for big things this September.

But North Melbourne’s season, and the classy forward’s career, came to an abrupt end at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night when the Sydney Swans ran away to win an elimination final by 35 points.

For Grant, who started his career with the Swans, it was somewhat ironic his final match was in his old hometown and against the club that drafted him.

And the 31-year-old said the further the match progressed he knew it would be his last as the Swans overturned a 10-point deficit at half-time into a commanding margin.

“I suppose as the game went on, especially towards the end of that last quarter, it settled in a bit and reality hit home,” a sombre Grant said in the rooms after the match.

“So [it was] very disappointing, very disappointing.”

Despite the script not having gone to plan, the former best and fairest winner and 1999 premiership hero has no regrets, saying he has given his all throughout 301-game career.

“It’s a tough game this caper and to be up for so long and to be able to contribute week-in, week-out for 14 or 15 years or whatever it is, it’s tough,” he said.

“But you know, I’ve given it my all, there’s nothing [left] in the tank so I’ve got no complaints or regrets.”

North Melbourne forward David Hale kicked a goal on three-quarter time to keep the Kangas in touch, although the Swans kicked away as the Shinboner Spirit failed to come through on this occasion.

“There was hope, but we didn’t deliver,” Grant lamented.

“We didn’t stand up when we needed to and that’s probably the most disappointing thing.

“In a two-horse race you’re always a chance but to Sydney’s credit they were terrific tonight … [but] to capitulate the way we did was probably the most disappointing thing.”

Coach Dean Laidley said after the match he believed his team to be closer to a premiership – or at least more advanced – this year despite being knocked out of the finals race at an earlier stage. Grant concurred.

“Yeah, I thought we were … the way we played in that sort of five or six-week bracket before the last two or three weeks,” Grant said.

“The played really good footy and I thought the group had really come of age and we’d really taken steps forward but as a group we’ve probably gone backwards now.”

With his playing boots now set to be hung up, Grant will enter the next phase of his life. And that looks set to follow the well-worn path of former players before him.

He has expressed a keen interest in coaching, having helped a TAC Cup team this year in his spare time and he admits it is an area he would be interested in pursuing.

“That’s something that’s probably got stronger and stronger over the last few years and it’s certainly something that I’d like to look at,” he said.

“We’ll just see what unfolds over the next few months I suppose.”