Heath Grundy
Encyclopedia
Heath Grundy is an Australian rules football
er in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
Nicknamed 'Reg' due to his namesake Reg Grundy
, he was elevated from the Sydney Swans
rookie list in 2005 after playing senior football with South Australian National Football League
(SANFL) club Norwood
and being an All-Australian under-18s player in 2004. He made an impressive senior debut in a Round 16, 2006, kicking three goals in a win against Richmond
.
After his three goal debut, Grundy was used prodominately in the forward line. Afer Grundy failed to convert his debut success on a consistent basis, Roos moved Grundy into defence where he has remained. It was only until 2009 that Grundy showed genuine promise as a defender. Grundy's ability to outmark his opponent (usually larger in weight and height) and find the ball more frequently, have been his most notable improvements.
In 2010, after Craig Bolton sustained a season-ending injury and then later on when Lewis Roberts-Thomson injured his hamstring, Grundy was called on by Roos to play on the competitions's best forwards. He marked players including Nick Riewoldt, Matthew Pavlich, Jonathan Brown, Barry Hall and Lance Franklin. He finished 5th in the Bob Skilton Medal.
2011 was another fairly consistent year for Grundy. He formed a stable partnership with Ted Richards as the Swans' key position defenders and held down the centre half-back position with aplomb. He was forced out of the Swans' run into and through the finals due to contracting Glandular Fever late in the year.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Nicknamed 'Reg' due to his namesake Reg Grundy
Reg Grundy
Reginald Roy "Reg" Grundy, AC, OBE is one of the most successful Australian entrepreneurs, and media and television moguls of his generation.He was the only child born to Roy Grundy and Lillian Lees...
, he was elevated from the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
rookie list in 2005 after playing senior football with South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL) club Norwood
Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
and being an All-Australian under-18s player in 2004. He made an impressive senior debut in a Round 16, 2006, kicking three goals in a win against Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
.
After his three goal debut, Grundy was used prodominately in the forward line. Afer Grundy failed to convert his debut success on a consistent basis, Roos moved Grundy into defence where he has remained. It was only until 2009 that Grundy showed genuine promise as a defender. Grundy's ability to outmark his opponent (usually larger in weight and height) and find the ball more frequently, have been his most notable improvements.
In 2010, after Craig Bolton sustained a season-ending injury and then later on when Lewis Roberts-Thomson injured his hamstring, Grundy was called on by Roos to play on the competitions's best forwards. He marked players including Nick Riewoldt, Matthew Pavlich, Jonathan Brown, Barry Hall and Lance Franklin. He finished 5th in the Bob Skilton Medal.
2011 was another fairly consistent year for Grundy. He formed a stable partnership with Ted Richards as the Swans' key position defenders and held down the centre half-back position with aplomb. He was forced out of the Swans' run into and through the finals due to contracting Glandular Fever late in the year.