In his first diary entry, Grundy tells collingwoodfc.com.au about his start to life in Melbourne and illustrates some of his experiences with the characters in the Collingwood locker room.
On moving interstate and living with three other draftees…
I wasn't really expecting to get drafted to Collingwood. I had only been interviewed by them the once prior to the draft so it was a big surprise but I’m very happy with the result.
Getting drafted with two other South Australian boys has really made the transition a lot easier. I moved over straight away, bringing with me a suitcase of clothes. We got to the house and my "room" was very dull and lifeless, so I’ve been going to the St Kilda and Queen Victoria Markets trying to deck out the new room, complementing it with NBA singlets, posters and vintage comic books.
I’ve also had to make a visit to Ikea but had to use Google Maps to get around because it’s such a huge store! I found some new bed linen to go with the walls (white) and had to make sure my pillows matched. It’s been a good choice so far.
I live in a house with three other first year draftees (Ben Kennedy, Tim Broomhead and Adam Oxley). My room’s the best of the lot. It’s very tidy and my dirty clothes basket is a big cardboard box.
There’s a lot of testosterone in the house, especially when we’re playing table tennis in the afternoons. The emotions run wild. Tim has already broken four bats, he gets right into it.
I consider myself the father figure of the group. I mean, Tim and Ben hardly worked prior to playing footy. I was at university last year so I feel as if I have a greater sense of independence. Sometimes I come home from shopping to find Tim and Adam playing cricket inside the house.
At home, I’ve spent most of the afternoons like a cat just laying about in the sun and listening to the likes of Dallas Green (also known as City and Colour).
On acquainting himself with Melbourne life…
Traffic is a bit of a worry. I’ve set my watch five minutes fast, but I hardly think that’s enough time.
I’ve been down Lygon and Chapel Streets but I’m yet to venture down Bridge Road. It’s definitely on the to-do list. I couldn't believe it when the boys said there was a movie cinema in the "Jam Factory"? I understand what they meant now but I mean, a movie in a jam factory, what the hell?
Parking is horrid, so I get public transport a lot. Being on the tram is like sardines in a can – it’s very packed and the hot weather only amounts to a greater hate of public transport because it brings out a greater volume of body odour after a long day.
On being recognised in public for the first time…
I was at Village Cinemas at Crown and someone excused themselves to speak to me. I mean, I don't think I’m that scary? I suppose it’s a bit of a novelty, and it makes you reflect on when you where a child and you looked up to people. But when you reach this level (keeping in mind that I still have a lot to prove) you realise that these ‘superstars’ are just like everyone else. They just have a special talent, and that’s what I’m trying to embrace and improve on at my time at Collingwood. I’m taking nothing for granted.
On the influential people in his short time at Collingwood…
I grew up going for Carlton, so naturally enough I got along fairly well with Jordan Russell, as he also came from South Australia. Now we talk about how we are ‘Side By Side’!
It has been pleasing to see the development of guys that I knew before I got drafted, like Corey Gault who I met at the draft camp as an underage in 2011. He has put on a lot of size and that’s something I’m looking forward to doing within this elite environment.
Obviously the training standouts are Luke Ball, Scott Pendlebury and Harry O’Brien who really work hard. Their professionalism and attention to detail is something that I certainly admire and look to learn from.
Dale Thomas and Heath Shaw's bubbly personalities and great senses of humour have also provided not only myself but also the other first year players with many laughs.
I suppose it’s been interesting to see how diverse a football club really is. People have different preparations but it all comes down to what works for you. Pendles (Scott Pendlebury) talks about having a routine, but it’s something I am yet to have set in stone.
When we were in Utah, I had the opportunity to speak to Harry O and we’ve developed our relationship since I’ve been back in Melbourne. He is different to a lot of the other boys, in that he’s very insightful and has what you might call an alternative or spiritual outlook on life. I appreciate his thoughtfulness and consideration on life, not only in footy. Only a few days ago we spent 20 minutes talking about quantum physics, religion, consciousness…all things weird I guess.
The morale and spirit within the group is very strong. There’s always a lot of banter in the locker room, which is always good. I wasn't really in massive awe of the players and the obvious big names Dane Swan and the like. My locker is next to Dane’s, and I always wondered what his tattoos were like close up. He’s got a good and evil theme going on, which works well for him.
On what comes next…
All of the new recruits are very keen to get into it and learn as much as we can. I’m really looking forward to getting a better sense of Melbourne over the coming month.
I’d love to make some friends outside of footy. I plan to finish my uni degree over here, and I want to be a physio. I put a large value on education which is something that I probably took for granted in high school, but I’ve found that being out of school and independent for a year at uni in 2012 will hold me in good stead for footy.
I deferred uni this year to really apply myself here and now, in terms of my footy education, because I’ve only been in the game for a short time and I’ve played probably 60 games in my life, I know I have a lot of hard work ahead of me.
