EVERYONE you speak to about Chris Grant notes his quiet humility. They describe him as a quality person.

This was evident from the moment he joined Footscray before the 1990 season.

He was so quiet during his early years that his nickname was 'Turtle', because it was rare for him to come out of his shell.

Before the 1994 season, he had grown enough to seek a meeting with coach Terry Wheeler. He wanted to take over the No.3 guernsey. Wheeler noted that it took a lot of self-belief to ask for the club's most famous number, which had been worn by Ted Whitten among others. He knew then that Grant himself would become a club legend.

At the end of the 1996 season, Grant received an offer of all the king's horses to play with new club Port Adelaide. He gave the move serious thought before receiving a letter from a six-year-old boy, Ryan Adams. The letter included a 20-cent coin. The boy explained it was all he had, but his hero could keep it if he remained with the Bulldogs. Grant chose to stay.

By 1997, Grant was established among the game's best. He moved easily and he marked with courage. He had all the qualities of a Brownlow medallist, but after round seven he was ruled out because of suspension.

During the Brownlow count, Grant received three votes for the game he was reported in. He received more votes than any other player — most importantly one more than St Kilda's Robert Harvey — but his suspension cost him the medal. Grant accepted the outcome with customary grace.

Grant was always a calm figure in the centre of a storm. In 1992 the Bulldogs reached the finals just three seasons after the club had been revived from its deathbed. The excitement was too much for some, and the Bulldogs went under in their first final. Grant was clearly best on ground as the Bulldogs rebounded to defeat St Kilda in the semi-final. Their future was in the hands of a 19-year-old.

In 2000 the Bulldogs were trailing Essendon late in round 21 when Grant ran in from the boundary to hook a kick on his left foot. His nerveless goal enabled the Dogs to hit the front and they went on to inflict on the Bombers their only defeat of the season. The celebrations afterwards, with Grant at the centre, are among the most jubilant in the club's history.

Under coach Rodney Eade in the mid-2000s Grant played mainly up forward with occasional forays into defence. His ability to read the play and distribute the ball made him a perfect foil across half-back.

Eade said it was a measure of Grant's selflessness that he played on through his later years with serious injuries. Others might not have risked the damage to their reputations, but Grant felt he was able to contribute as long as he could run on to the ground.

After an 18-season career, Grant said it meant a lot that he was able to play his entire career at one club. He feels like he belongs to the Bulldogs. It's the observation of a quality person.