Rodney (Balls) Grinter

A message from the man himself, copied from Neil's FB Page: I am deeply honoured to accept the title of Australian of the Year 2025. This recognition belongs to the entire MND community - the families, carers, researchers, volunteers, everyone at the Fight MND foundation, MND state associations, and the countless Australians who have joined us in this fight. It also belongs to my family, headed by my wife Jan and our children and their partners, who have supported me every step of the way. My journey began in 2013 when I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease - a beast of a disease. It doesn’t discriminate; it robs you of your ability to move, speak, swallow, and breathe. But it also ignited a determination in me to fight for those affected now and in the future. I chose to fight because if I didn’t, how could I expect anyone else to? I chose to hope because I believe in the decency and generosity of Australians. I thought, if people truly understood the challenges we face, they’d join the fight with me. And you have - oh, how you have. So thank you. In my lifetime, I hope we find the causes of MND, better treatments, and ultimately, a cure. Beyond that, I hope to leave a legacy that shows we all have the power to choose to fight, to smile, and to act. Because the mark of a person isn’t what they say; it’s what they do. Thank you for believing in this fight. Together, we will win it. #AusoftheYear Australian of the Year Awards In all the appearances he makes, I'm amazed at how humble, greatful and inspirational is. With his ability to reach out to other people and bring them together, it's no wounder he was a coach. I bought my nephew Neil's book "When all is said and done" a few years back for Christmas, but haven't actually read it myself; something I think I should make time for. Queens Birthday this year will be huge. Also wounder if there will be a bit of a pre-election promise of funds for MND research?

Yeah, feed him to the Lions for his crimes ...or whatever. Lol

What about Brock McLean, he's a good bloke. Maybe he can take the fall.

No, I think a bot would offer better insights and interactions.

Yeah, Harley Reid seems like a fair swap if Freo don't want to let go of Andrew Brayshaw.

So I think Brad Green sent flowers to Trac's mumma and they're doing full exploratory surgery with Australia's best truma doctors tomorrow, to make sure he hasn't pulled a heart mussel as well. Personally I'm a Trac fan in many ways, but that [censored] show around him last year at the end of the season was a disgrace. He could have shut it down way earlier. Think he actually has to build back some trust with the supporter base. The team winning and planting ourselves back up top of the ladder off the back of a few bogs from him and Clarry will probably do it!

Nup. No woundering - man is a beast. I think he'll be running for the role as the black knight after he retires from football.

Agree with that. He has that innate forwards sense of where the ball is likely to drop, where the dangerous space is and awareness of other players around him. He may drop the mark, skirt the contest and seem out of the play, but next thing you know, he's out the other side of the pack and having a shot on goal. On the down side for him I think that when he pulls it off, he makes it look easy and opportunist and when it doesn't fall his way, it probably makes him look lazy and undefensive. BBB also had a similar sense as a forward, although I think he may also have been better at times of bringing other forwards into the play, by providing a well directed tap on to advantage of our other forwards out of nowhere when he looked out of position, that often created scoring opportunities, even though he wasn't pulling down that many marks and having direct shots himself. I'm not sure we could have all our forwards play this role of Fritta, but I think you at least need a few with the ability to create and provide attacking scoring opportunities - if everyone is just looking to takle the defender, who is actually being the attacker? Also think that it soaks up alot of the opposition defenders attention checking him and fees up other players to get out in space within our forward line. I personally think playing as a defender on someone like Fritsch would be a nightmare, because players like him are just so 'slippery' that you can't easily out position them around a contest, they are always two steps ahead of you with respect where the ball is going and where to position themselves.

I grew up in Box Hill and really wished dad had taken us out to Sportsco to meet Robbie. I did get out to the Western Oval last round in 87 though and standing up the back against the fence behind the goals is memory that will be etched in my memory forever and probably solidified my passion for being a MFC supporter and I have Robbie to tank for that. The elation of MFC supporters that day when we realised we'd made it through to the top 5 was amazing and that Robbie would get to play finals was frequently mentioned, not just that it was our first finals appearance in over 20 years

Shows what a joke the award is. But maybe some if it is down to the bad luck of Robbie having his best years the same as those of other absolute champions of the game like Bernie Quinlan, Malcolm Blight or a Ross Glendinning played a blinder of a season? What year(s) do you think were Robbie's best that went unnoticed by the men in white?

A bit of an asides, but back in the day, I had a mate with a beat up old 70s/80s Carona or something, who used a cricket bat to hold up the vinyl interior roof lining on that car, which had become somehow detached and would sag down without the presence of the bat!

Does a good Dr.Eggman impression in those

At various times Demonland has has some excellent podcasts guests that are/were current members of the club administration and coaching pannel. Peter Jackson was one of the most prominent and insightful that imeediatley come to mind. I'm only going off memory here, but I think the timing of his appearance was probably in the Paul Roos days or perhaps around 2018 when he was very much relevant to the club. I think there should be plenty of scope for perhaps more current serving club personnel to appear on the pod cast and answer interview questions from Andy, Binny and the general forum without compromising any sense of independence from the club. Maybe Brad could appear on the forum himself (again possibly), to kick off the open communication channels. Incidentally, one of the quotes that stuck with me from that Peter Jackson interview is that "sometimes development is always linear" and then we had seasons 2019, 2020, followed by 2021!

Could probably also tick off the "nothing good happens at the Sorrento Hotel" for MFC players! (except crappy media stories).

It's a big punt on Johnson I agree. But if we do run with the angle that as he's mature enough and offers that physical edge and can receive JVR from pinch hitting in the ruck, I could accept that. Personally, I haven't seen quite enough out of the Kolt yet to suggest that he should have a place in the side ahead of Disco, who can and does play very mobile for his size. I'd have Disco in as well, as I think he could be about to really hit his straps next year, take his game that bit further and give us some real potency up forward. Was definitely one of our best forwards last season.

I'm not sure the tribunal and MRO being Pies supporters was the factor in the Maynard case though, because if my memory those people actually initially handed down a reasonable (yet possibly still slightly lenient in hindsight) penalty. I lay the blame more so with Collingwood for taking it to court to challenge what was clear to everyone else in the game an action that shouldn't be accepted and the AFL for not having the gumption to counter challenge Collingwoods legal action or threaten Collingwood into submission before it went to court in the first place by whatever means. The fact the AFL changed rule in the off season was an admission of guilt that they had essentially Fffed up. As for the McGuire behaviour after Maynard got off - don't even get me started. AFL Power club politics at its best.

That's rubbish. The players that can actually get elevation to take screamers do so because they get most of there momentum going up and not forward into the players back. If you can't do that, don't go for the mark in that way and don't raise your knees into their back. What Moore did was like an unrealistic attempt with neglect for the players welfare. Similarly poorly executed attempts like Chol on May should be looked at. Again massive knee raise. From memory it was Chol or someone similar that almost took out someone's head/kneck in the next week. Can't have the head being sacrosanct whe you bump, but then have it being OK to make full contact with a knee during a controlled action. People also say that Maynard was within the rules and do you want to take out players committing to the contest. I think it's all about players playing with an extent more control and being aware that they can't just be human wrecking balls out on the field, but that that still leaves plenty of room to play the game it should be played. It use to be more of the 6' and less athletic types that could actually jump they flew for this sort of mark and now they have given licence to every man and his dog to go for them. Similarly, I don't think players would have got away with jumping straight into someone's back like Chol and Moore way back when, because there would have been an even-upper.

If only they'd seriously investigate Darcy Moore's role in it too. Understand that sometimes incidents/accidents will occur and/or are technically within the rules, but when huge blokes like more through their whole body weight at other players knee first, what do we expect the outcomes to be? I guess the words duty of care and Collingwood players are a but of an oxymoron at best within the AFL.

Further to the Disco getting Gus's number thing, in the Disco video up on the club website, he does mention how honoured her is getting it and how he was quite close with Gus, having stayed with him and his parents when he first came to the club (as I understand many others have also).

I'd also say that Bolten, Kelly and Grundy grossly overpaid for their respective contributions. Grundy somewhat at the expense of Collingwood I hope/assume. Also says to me, how fortunate we are having Max as someone who could have demanded top dollar, but accepted a more modest salary for the benifit of team success. His consistent output justifies a bigger pay day than so many others on that list.

Yeah, also know as the WTF emoji

Lol. Oh, please bring back the faceplam emoji.

So interested in what you see as Chandler's weaknesses and/or if you see him as best 22 long term material? Personally I do rate Chandler for his general tenacity, workrate, ability to find the goals on a fairly regular basis and his reliability in nailing the set shots opportunities he gets. If you're suggesting he's a good overhead mark for his size, then I'd agree with that too. I also get the feeling that he's well liked around the club for his good character and willingness to do the team things.

And the worst haircut at the MFC.