Kenyan-born AFLW draft prospect Elaine Grigg looks to start her career interstate, hopes to inspire other multicultural footballers
She was born in Kenya, has won two SANFLW premierships and is one of SA’s top AFLW draft prospects. Meet Elaine Grigg.
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Elaine Grigg idolises South Sudanese footballer Akec Makur Chuot.
On Monday night, Grigg will hope to follow in the trailblazer’s footsteps as the next African player to make her mark in the AFLW.
Kenyan-born Grigg is one of South Australia’s top two draft prospects.
The 17-year-old Central District player is certain to hear her name called and is almost guaranteed to head interstate, having chosen to enter the national pool.
Not only has the 161cm pressure forward had more interest from across the border, including from Essendon, Sydney and Melbourne, but the two SA clubs have shuffled back in the draft order via trades.
Port Adelaide’s first pick is now at 18, while the Crows (22) have the opening selection of the second round.
“Since I picked ‘nationally’, a lot of clubs have reached out,” Grigg told this masthead.
“They thought I’d stay in SA.
“It was a really hard decision.
“Talking to clubs with my management, we decided that was the best option for me.
“I don’t know where I’m going to go but it’s just an exciting time.”
Moving interstate to start her career does not worry Grigg.
She has travelled a long way to get this far.
The two-time SANFLW premiership player was eight when she came to Australia.
She and her sister, Michelle, were living with their aunty in Nairobi before reuniting with their mum, Christine, who was doing nursing Down Under.
Footy came into her life via her stepdad, David.
“Mum didn’t really know about footy, but Dad played, he loved Richmond and would always go to watch the footy,” Grigg tells this masthead.
“I didn’t really know what it was.
“I used to play basketball and touch (football), but Dad said I should play footy because I was too physical for basketball.”
Grigg quickly fell in love with Aussie rules.
She started with Gaza, then moved to Broadview and North Adelaide.
Last season, she won a state league flag with the Roosters, playing alongside the likes of Port Adelaide duo Hannah Ewings and Amelie Borg.
This year, Grigg collected a second premiership medal at Central District after transferring to the club where her grandfather, Ray, was a long-time patron.
“He loves Centrals so I just thought I’d go across there and play for him,” she says.
“Winning with them was so special.”
Grigg laid 15 tackles – the third-most in the team – in the Bulldogs’ three-point grand final triumph over South Adelaide in June.
Her tenacity has caught the eye of AFLW recruiters.
Grigg impressed them at the SA women’s draft combine in October, leading the 2km time trial from the outset, only to drop several spots back mid-race, then storming home to prevail.
“I really pride myself on my pressure and speed,” she says.
“I just don’t like losing.
“I’m very competitive.”
Along the way, Grigg attended a camp for multicultural players, where she met former Hawthorn, Richmond and Fremantle defender Makur Chuot.
Makur Chuot, the first African footballer in the AFLW, retired at the end of this past season.
Her and Grigg have stayed in touch.
“It’s really inspiring to me to see someone like her who is multicultural playing AFLW,” Grigg says.
“She’s a role model for me.”
A lot of Grigg’s family still live in Nairobi.
The Griggs have returned to visit them a few times but not since Covid struck.
Christine shares highlights of her daughter to her family in Africa so they can follow her footy progress.
“They all think it’s soccer, which is such a big sport in Kenya,” Grigg says.
“Every time I talk to them, they always say how good I’m doing in footy.”
Grigg says her mum “knows everything” about the code now.
“When I come home from games, she says ‘you should do this better, that better’,” she says.
“She loves watching AFL and AFLW.”
At home, Kenyan culture immerses Grigg’s life.
“If you ever came to our house, Mum’s always blasting the Kenyan music and she cooks a lot of different Kenyan foods,” Grigg says.
“She cooks Kenyan chapati, which is like naan bread.
“Sometimes she speaks to me in the Kenyan language, Kikuyu – I can understand the basics and speak a little bit of it.”
Occasionally, Grigg will include the traditional music of her home country into her pre-game routine.
“I like my mum’s music – sometimes it’s so loud,” she says.
Grigg says her family, both in Australia and in Kenya, will be very proud of her if she is drafted.
“Not just them, but the wider (African) community,” she says.
“It’d be a big deal and show other girls they can do it.”
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