Williamstown CYMS football club slammed for hiring Shannon Grant

A Williamstown footy club has dumped Shannon Grant as head coach amid backlash over the former Roos star’s history of domestic violence.

Former AFL player Shannon Grant.

Shannon Grant has been dumped as senior coach of an amateur football club less than 48 hours after his new gig was announced.

The Herald Sunon Thursday revealed Williamstown CYMS football club was copping backlash over the North Melbourne premiership star’s appointment after he was found guilty of a series of assaults on his ex-girlfriend.

Williamstown CYMS football club confirmed they had parted ways with the Norm Smith medallist after significant backlash from the community.

“The club executive wish to advise that the club and Shannon Grant have agreed to part ways,” club spokesman Rod Ford posted online.

“We are sorry for any hurt caused to the victims of domestic abuse and those associated with them.

“We appreciate the unity, empathy and care the players have demonstrated towards each other over the past 48 hours.

“We are sorry to our entire playing group for the position we have put you in.”

The backflip comes after the Herald Sun revealed the controversial appointment on Thursday evening.

Grant was sentenced to six months jail in 2018 over three thuggish attacks on his ex-girlfriend but the sentence was overturned on appeal and he was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.

He was also fined for assaulting a woman in a frightening pub assault that year and pleaded guilty to breaching a court order.

Earlier, the club said while it did not condone violence “in any shapre or form”, Grant had “been made accountable” for his past.

“Shannon has been accountable and made changes to multiple areas of his life. We are supportive of providing opportunities to people who have worked hard to grow from their mistakes and are willing to educate others on this.

“The club looks forward to the leadership and guidance that Shannon will offer the club both on and off field in 2022 and beyond.”

Former AFL player Shannon Grant. Picture: AAP

The move has attracted backlash from the tight-knit football club, with one parent of a player saying she was “horrified”.

“As a parent I am disappointed in the club, it is so family-oriented, why would they take on someone with such a history,” the parent said.

“It sucks. We have a domestic violence round. Where will he stand during that game.

“It is poorly thought through and extremely hypocritical. All the girls are mortified.”

Others posted to the club’s social media pages.

“What an absolute slap in the facefor domestic abuse survivors everywhere,” one said.

Another said: “What a terrible decision to employ a perpetrator of family violence into a role which involves mentoring and influencing young people.”

Grant played more than 300 AFL games and was a member of the 1999 North Melbourne premiership team.

He has coached Frankston, the Bendigo Bombers and been an assistant coach at the Western Bulldogs.

Originally published as Williamstown CYMS football club slammed for hiring Shannon Grant