It was back to where it all began for Crows midfielder Mitch Grigg, when he visited his junior football club Athelstone on Wednesday night.
Grigg was at the club as part of Adelaide’s Crows in Clubs program where players run clinics and sign autographs for young fans.
The tough midfielder played all of his junior football at Athelstone before being scouted by Norwood as a 16-year-old and subsequently being drafted by the Crows in 2011.
About 100 kids were at the clinic and Grigg said it was fantastic to be able to get back to his old club.
“It’s great to get back to your grassroots footy team where it all started for you,” Grigg said.
“I remember what it was like to see an AFL footballer when I was that age and the kids get a really big kick out of it.
“It’s always a lot of fun meeting new people and seeing the smiles on the kid’s faces and you can see they’re really enjoying it.”
The Grigg name has a strong association with Athelstone Football Club with Mitch’s dad Chris playing 200 games with the Raggies.
“Mine is a pretty good story really,” Grigg said.
“I started when I was under 8s and played all the way through when I got picked up as a junior at Norwood in the development squads.
“My old man was a 200-gamer at Athelstone and he actually played his 200th game in the C Grade and I was lucky enough to run out with him in the Raggies colours so that’s an experience I will never forget.
“I won an under 16s premiership while dad was coaching me so that’s also a memory I cherish.”
Grigg has made a strong start to 2016 in the Crows State League side playing all six matches, averaging 24 disposals a game.
The 23-year-old will be looking to help the Crows take top spot on the SANFL ladder this week when they play Central District on Saturday at My Money House Oval.
