North Melbourne AFL teammates Nathan Grima, Hamish McIntosh reunite in Adelaide Footy League
Once teammates at AFL level, now this former North Melbourne duo is leading the revival at a division two Adelaide Footy League club – and they’re already winning.
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When Nathan Grima and Hamish McIntosh walked off an AFL field for the last time as teammates in 2012, division two suburban football in Adelaide would have been a far-fetched setting for a reunion.
But, almost a decade later, it is now where the close mates are leading a revival.
The former North Melbourne duo were at the forefront – Grima as coach and McIntosh in his familiar role in the ruck – for Adelaide Footy League club Glenunga on Saturday.
Pedlar Reserve in the western suburb of Seaton was far from the elimination final at Subiaco where they walked from the field in 2012.
But the ex-Kangaroos’ arrival at the Rams came with devastating effect.
Glenunga took a commanding 58-point victory in the round one clash, not bad for a club which went winless last season with an average losing margin of 10 goals.
Grima, revelling in his new grassroots footy role after parting ways with SANFL club Sturt, said McIntosh would provide valuable experience.
The 203cm ruckman is still based in Melbourne but regularly travels to SA for work.
“I spoke to Hamish – who still keeps super fit – about if he would be up to helping a young team try and get a win while he is here,” Grima said.
“He got really excited by the idea.
“To help a young group that’s been knocked around a fair bit last year, not winning a game, I really feel it’s invaluable and important to start the year well.”
Another close mate of the pair – triple Ken Farmer Medallist Michael Wundke who was on the North list with them in 2009 – booted four goals in his Rams debut.
“Hamish, Michael and myself have all been best mates for over a decade – all three of us have been in each other’s weddings,” Grima said.
“So playing with Michael was another factor.”
Grima, 35, and McIntosh, 36, spent four seasons at the Kangaroos before the latter was traded to Geelong ahead of the 2013 season.
The pair would reunite at Strathmore in the Essendon District Football League in 2016.
Grima then made the move to SA to coach the Double Blues.
He said McIntosh’s involvement this would depend on the availability of Glenunga’s other talls.
“About six to eight weeks back Michael had to go and get ankle surgery, Tom Langford was unavailable for round one, James Wundke has got a calf injury and won’t play and Nick Wundke at the time was coming back from a back injury,” he said.
“We’ll play him for a few games where we need him, but if we have all those guys available he won’t be playing.
“I floated it all our boys a few weeks ago and they were all really excited by the opportunity to play with an ex-AFL player.”
The Rams will be eyeing another victory this Saturday when they take on Scotch Old Collegians at Webb Oval.
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