Fast forward nine days and it is safe to say that dream has come true, as he sat back and watched his Demons trounce the Bulldogs to end their 57-year premiership drought — kicking off what has been a surreal week of celebrations.
Being part of a strong contingent of Goulburn Valley exports to don the red and blue, Grinter has been front and centre of these virtual celebrations as president of the club’s past players association.
Having had more than a week to let the result sink in, he described the aftermath from the game as surreal.
“I woke up on Sunday, picked up the paper and realised that it wasn’t a dream and the Dees had won the premiership,” Grinter said.
“It was just amazing and the way that they played through that second quarter made me very nervous, but then something was just turned on and they piled on 16 goals to one — it was unbelievable really.”
Knowing his team had the result sewn up with a fair portion of time still on the clock, he said the closing minutes of the last quarter and that precious moment the final siren sounded was something he would cherish forever.
“We were sitting at home knowing before the siren had went we had won the game, but during that goal onslaught there was a lot of jumping up and down and punching the air in the family lounge room,” he said.
“Following the hysteria of winning and hugging each other I sat back and watched all the presentation, saw the local Kyabram boy (Garry Lyon) present the premiership cup to our coach and our captain, it was very special and then to see how happy the boys were it was a fantastic moment.”
He said the outpouring of emotion from a number of former Melbourne players following the win was extraordinary.
“My phone was next to me for the whole night, but I didn’t want to look at it during the game, so once all the formalities had ended I sat back on the couch for the next hour and a half replying to all the messages going through and watching all the little videos of other former players carrying on with excitement,” he said.
“I started up a WhatsApp group with about 150 past players after the preliminary final win and on Monday I went back and counted there were about 400 posts made on the Saturday alone,” he said.
“For myself and all of the past players the only disappointing thing has been we haven’t been able to catch up to celebrate what was a historic moment in person — it is just unbelievable the amount of joy this win has given so many people.”
Looking to the future, Grinter said there was no reason why the Demons would stop at one premiership as something was brewing at Melbourne Football Club.
“If you look at the age profile of the list and compare them to Hawthorn and Richmond we are in a very similar position to those clubs when they won their first premierships,” he said.
“We are always a bit shy to be bullish about our team because of our history, but this year I have been very sure on the way they have been playing and been waiting for that slap in the face that never happened.
“I am very excited in the team that we have and to win a premiership you need a lot to go right, but if they can keep themselves healthy there is no doubt we will be the hunted and there is every chance we can start a dynasty.”
Grinter also wanted to take the chance to give some special shout-outs.
“Firstly to Melbourne’s football department, the support they have provided to the past players in terms of being open and available has created a culture that is selfless and embraced the club’s great history,” he said.
“Also a shout out to all the local Goulburn Valley boys that played for Melbourne, I just want to say thank you for your contribution to our footy club in your journey and may there be many more from the region that join the red and blue.”
