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FILLING THE VOID BY STEVE BARRETT
When Travis Schiller, having been crowned Central District’s bestand-fairest for a record-equalling third time last September, announced he would be opting for a European summer over an Adelaide winter in 2023, the Bulldogs’ midfield had an enormous hole to fill. Enter Harry Grant. The nuggety 173cm on-baller has stepped up magnificently, piecing together the best season of his career to spearhead Central’s newlook engine room and lead the Dogs’ bid to break their six-year finals drought. “I looked up to Travy over the past two years, just with his consistency and the way he played,” said Grant, who turned 22 on Monday. “We recruited a lot of midfielders because he left such a big hole. We’re filling that void as a whole midfield line because Travy did a lot of heavy lifting when he was here. This has been my career-best year.” Hailing from south-eastern NSW, just outside the ACT, Grant played his junior footy with Queanbeyan Tigers before developing his craft at the GWS Giants Academy. Grant was recruited to Central through his manager Trevor Clisby’s connection with Corey Durdin, who was drafted by Carlton from the SANFL’s Bulldogs. Grant made an instant impact at Elizabeth, ranking fifth in Central’s best-and-fairest in his debut 2021 campaign and taking out the Les Stevens Memorial (Development Award) Trophy. Unable to recapture that same form in 2022, during which he was hampered by an
early-season knee niggle and spent half the year in the reserves, Grant has stepped up massively this season, firming as the favourite to take out the Norm Russell Medal as club champion. In the space of one scintillating month, Grant amassed career-highs in disposals (36 against Port Adelaide in Round 9), tackles (15 against Woodville-West Torrens in Round 6) and clearances (11 against the Eagles in Round 10), while ranking inside the SANFL’s top 10 in all three categories overall. “I had a pretty good year in 2021 and then a pretty interrupted one last year with injuries and form,” said Grant, who works as an electrician. “I had a strong pre-season to get my body right and a very big offseason in terms of improving my footy IQ and my running patterns.
I’m having a great time playing and we’ve been playing some strong footy as a team.” Grant’s individual third-year surge has underpinned Central’s rise up the ladder under Paul Thomas. Finals are definitely front of Grant’s mind – as is sticking around at his adopted State for some time. “I’m in my third year in Adelaide and really enjoying it,” he said. “I’ve got a great job, made some great mates and the footy club has really looked after me. Hopefully I have a long SANFL career. “This is Thommo’s third year as coach and we’re starting to see it all come together, which is really nice. It’s been consistent hard work over those three years that has put us in good stead now. Every time we step out on that field, we’re thinking finals.”
Making our mark.
sanfl.com.au
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