Richmond champion Dylan Grimes has joined the mass exodus at Tigerland and called time on his decorated AFL career.
The 33-year-old told his teammates on Tuesday that after 15 years and 234 games it was time to hang up the boots.
He is a triple premiership player, a Jack Dyer medallist (B&F winner), an All-Australian, and two-time winner of the club’s prestigious Francis Bourke Award.
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But it is a sad end to the former captain’s career who could only manage five games this year as the team tumbled own the ladder and hit rock bottom.
He joins club legend Dustin Martin out the door, and the architect of the club’s three flags from 2017-2020, CEO Brendon Gale.
Other premiership stars — Liam Baker, Shai Bolton, Daniel Rioli and Jack Graham — are also looking to move on from Richmond in what is a staggering implosion.
Sadly, he won’t get a farewell game due to his back injury … but he will say farewell to fans, along with Martin, at the Richmond game at the MCG on Saturday.
“The club had plenty of reasons to throw in the towel with me over many years with surgeries, form slumps or whatever (else),” he said.
“There is a part of me that has had a chip on my shoulder for my entire career to try and repay the debt I felt like I owed the club.
“Almost everything good in my life, I have because of here, so thank you.
“I will miss the thrill of the contest, and I will miss the incredible feeling of playing in front of the best fans in the world … But I leave with no regrets and just a sense of pride for everything we have achieved together.”
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said Grimes would go down as one of the club’s all-time greats.
“Dylan arrived at the club via the pre-season draft, and straight away, you could tell that he was going to be a player that got everything out of himself, which 15 years later has certainly come to fruition,” Gale said.
“His importance to our team and club across a long period has been profound, and his contribution to our era of success has been outstanding.
“In a role that does not always receive the plaudits, Dylan exemplified, and he was respected and admired across the league as a top-line quality player.
“Dylan had a wonderful career and is one of our most decorated players, but his legacy at the club as a great teammate will be the most lasting.
“On behalf of everyone at Richmond, we cannot thank Dylan enough for what he did for our club. He was a heart and soul footballer and will forever be a Richmond man.”
Grimes was overlooked in the 2009 draft, but was added to the Tigers’ list via the pre-season draft.
But he battled persistent hamstring injuries in his early years, managing just 26 matches in his first four seasons.
But from 2014 the 194cm defender became a mainstay of the team before rising to All-Australian level in the premiership year of 2019.
Grimes did not miss a game in the drought-breaking 2017 premiership season, forming an imposing backline with fellow talls David Astbury and Alex Rance.
In 2021 he won the club’s best and fairest after finishing inside the top 10 for the six previous seasons.