Mitch Grigg and his father Chris, who has MND, shared the Magarey Medal triumph
SANFL president John Olsen had barely finished announcing Mitch Grigg as the Magarey Medallist when the Norwood star left his seat to embrace his father, who has motor neurone disease. Now he was wants to enjoy another premiership win with his dad.
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SANFL president John Olsen had barely finished announcing Mitch Grigg as the Magarey Medallist on Wednesday night when the Norwood star left his seat to embrace his father at another table.
The tight hug and Chris Grigg’s tears were proof of just what this moment meant to the Grigg family.
There was a brief exchange between father and son later that night after the formalities had been completed at Adelaide Oval. It was the next morning though, when Chris told his lad just what he thought, calling the gun Redlegs on-baller to say how proud he was and how it was all very humbling.
“Dad said ‘imagine if you put a full season together instead of a couple of good games and then a couple of bad ones’,” Mitch said. “He taught me to be humble.”
Chris, who played three league games for the Redlegs, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year.
Mitch’s chat is as honest as his actions on the field. He talks of his dad having lost a little strength in his arms, his left arm probably effected a little more by the ailment. Mitch reckons his dad would struggle to lift a bar stool with his left arm.
Chris’ speech is a little slurred, according to Mitch.
“To the naked eye you would not know anything is different, only the people close to him can notice some imperfections,” Mitch said. “But dad is not too bad and at this stage he is doing well. All the support the family has received has been unbelievable. To have dad at the Magarey Medal and share that moment with him was very special and something I won’t forget.
“It is still hard knowing he has been diagnosed with MND (motor neurone disease). We will deal with it for what it is and get the most out of life.”
Grigg joined an elite group to have won back-to-back Medals when he polled 26 votes to beat Central District rover Travis Schiller by two. But he said he would give the medals away to win another premiership this season.
The Redlegs, hot favourites after claiming the minor premiership, will take on Woodville-West Torrens in the second semi-final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
“Hopefully we will make the grand final,” he said. “We have put ourselves in the best possible position.”
Grigg was a member of the Redlegs’ premiership side in 2013 and he wants to share another flag with his dad.
“Who knows how long we will have dad with us, you just don’t know with this disease,” Mitch said.
“If he is around for another 10 years, you just don’t know.
“If I can enjoy these moments with him when he is fit and healthy, then it will mean even more.”
