Shaun Grigg didn’t get long to ease into life as a Cat.
Less than 24 hours after saying goodbye to the Tigers at the club’s Best and Fairest Dinner, he was standing at GMHBA Stadium in a blue and white media polo.
Grigg was onboard as the club’s new development coach after making the decision to escape the rat race of Melbourne and make the move down the highway.
It hadn’t taken long for the Cats to move after hearing another premiership player was shifting into the neighbourhood.
One pre-season into his new role and Grigg is relishing life after a fresh start in a new system.
The new kid on the Cats’ block has slid seamlessly into a talented line-up of ex-players that forms the coaching staff.
From Scott to Knights, Scarlett to Lappin, Enright to Ottens and O’Bree to Rahilly, the coaches box is stacked with talent.
“The coaches have been fantastic, obviously some great ex-players but great coaches as well,” Grigg says.
“They’re pretty competitive, they like to keep fit so just being pretty recently retired I’ve wanted to put the feet up a bit, but I’ve been dragged into most of the coaches’ activities.
“As I got older I definitely enjoyed developing the young players and the coaching side of footy.
“I was lucky the back end of last year when I retired, to get a bit of a taste of it and I really enjoyed it. I’m very lucky and grateful to have the opportunity here at the Cats.”
Grigg has enjoyed getting to work with some of the young talent on the club’s list, some of whom surprised him on arrival at the club.
“Tommy Atkins and Gryan Miers, the way those guys work, Sammy Simspon and Oscar Brownless, all of them have really surprised me,” he says.
“Those guys who I didn’t really know too much about who have been on the list for a couple of years, they’re better players than what I originally thought not knowing them from afar.
“Some of the new guys are really enthusiastic and willing to learn and just a good vibrant bunch.
“Their willingness to work has been second to none. They like putting in the hard yards. The talent and resilience of them through pre-season has been good.
“Hopefully we can see some of the young guys get some opportunity and translate that training form into AFL form.”
Grigg is locked in on sharing all the experience he garnered across 12 seasons of AFL football and a 2017 flag.
“There’s a wide range of experiences that I’ve had throughout my career that hopefully I can pass onto the young guys,” he says.
"Whether it’s dealing with form or injury or stuff outside of footy, hopefully I can add a bit of value.
“It’s been a bit different from what I’ve been used two having spent the last nine or ten years in the one system. It’s been great to learn some new things and meet some new people.”
He’s loving his new surrounds as well, having not looked back since making the move.
“I’m loving living down in Geelong, it’s a lot different from Melbourne obviously,” he says.
“Being a Ballarat boy it’s pretty similar, I’ve had a good summer on the beach and settling in nicely.
“The best thing about it, I’m not too far away from the footy club so in summer I was walking to and from work, no matter what time of day it’s a five-minute drive. You’re not looking at your watch trying to beat that peak hour.”
