MPFNL 2024: Jarrad Grant takes over as Frankston Bombers senior coach

An ex-AFL Bulldog and Sun has answered an SOS from his MPFNL club to coach, a week after a shock resignation.

Jarrad Grant of the Gold Coast Suns takes a mark against the Fremantle Dockers in 2017. (AAP Image/Tony McDonough)

With a burst of excitement, Frankston Bombers have locked in Jarrad Grant as their senior coach for the 2024 season.

The former Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast Suns forward has stepped up to the position less than a week after the Bombers were left without a coach when John Brown resigned.

“When one door closes, another always opens,” the Bombers said.

“As a club, we wanted to look from within our current group and community, and with Jarrad showing interest in coaching over the past few months it was a good opportunity for him to step up and lead the senior group.

“We are super excited for season 2024 and to see this new side of JG.”

Grant, 34, admitted the coaching opportunity came sooner than he expected but he’s looking forward to the challenge.

“I mean last week we had a senior coach so it’s all happened fairly quick,’’ he said.

“You can’t really take your time too much at this point of the year, but all good.’’

Jarrad Grant as a Bulldog in 2015.

Grant as a Sun. Pic: Michael Klein

He added: “Coaching is something I have been interested in doing, (but) probably my philosophy more so was that I wanted to wait until I finished playing.

“So it’s going to be definitely a challenge in that I’ll be playing and coaching at the same time.

“I’m going to have to now find the balance of being worried about my own performance versus putting the team first and portraying a good message to the boys and making sure we’re doing the right things as a team, not just myself.

“That’s probably going to be the challenge for me in terms of playing.’’

Grant played in a Frankston Bombers senior premiership as a 17-year-old in 2007, months before he was was selected by the Western Bulldogs with their first selection (No. 5 overall).

He went on to play 95 AFL games with both the Bulldogs and the Gold Coast Suns — showing mercurial ability at times — before being delisted by the Suns in 2017.

For the past six seasons Grant has played for the Frankston Bombers, often lighting up local grounds with his brilliance.

“The positive is that I’ve obviously been at the footy club a fair while now and played with the majority of the guys so the relationship side of things is already there,’’ he said.

Jarrad Grant playing for the Frankston Bombers. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Grant said he may “tinker’’ with certain aspects of the Frankston Bombers’ game plan but generally the side would go into 2024 with a similar strategy.

The Bombers made the finals last season.

Grant is philosophical about his new challenge.

“It’s exciting and a little bit daunting but it’s like taking anything new like changing jobs or whatever you’re always going to feel that way and I think that’s actually a good thing as well,’’ he said.

“I’m also going to have plenty of support…it’s not just a job I’m going to be doing on my own.’’