JACK Grimes and Jordie McKenzie discuss football, home life, Colin Garland’s sense of humour and Jake Spencer’s arms
Jordie: After a good start to the year Grimsey, you were unlucky in round 6 to do your navicular bone, which sidelined you for the rest of the season. It must have been frustrating to be on the sidelines?
Jack: To be told you’re going to miss the rest of the season was really hard to take, especially after putting in a solid preseason and to be actually feeling really fit. Watching from the sidelines was tough but the Club got me involved in reviews and previews which was great to keep my mind in the game.
Jordie: After a good start to the year Grimsey, you were unlucky in round 6 to do your navicular bone, which sidelined you for the rest of the season. It must have been frustrating to be on the sidelines?
Jack: To be told you’re going to miss the rest of the season was really hard to take, especially after putting in a solid preseason and to be actually feeling really fit. Watching from the sidelines was tough but the Club got me involved in reviews and previews which was great to keep my mind in the game.
Jordie: This was your first year in the leadership group which must have been a good way for you still to be involved. You even went on to win the leadership award. Obviously you’ve been kicking some goals in that area?
Jack: Being more heavily involved with the senior guys has helped me learn a lot about myself and being a leader. People like Greeny, Flash, Beamer and Riv have been great for Jonesy and I in our first year in the group. It has been a great experience and great to be amongst it. I was in the position to be able to put a bit more in to it being injured so had more time on my hands and really enjoyed it.
Jack: Being more heavily involved with the senior guys has helped me learn a lot about myself and being a leader. People like Greeny, Flash, Beamer and Riv have been great for Jonesy and I in our first year in the group. It has been a great experience and great to be amongst it. I was in the position to be able to put a bit more in to it being injured so had more time on my hands and really enjoyed it.
Jordie: Watching the year from the sidelines, who do you think had a standout year?
Jack: A standout would probably be Jeremy Howe is his first year. He had an immediate impact at AFL level. He was taking marks and kicking goals right from the start and has been likened to the great Russell Robertson. He had a great first year and took out the Best First Year Player award. My other one would be Jack Watts. He had his best year yet at the Club and proved why was a number one draft pick.
Jack: Now yourself Jords, you didn’t have the best run earlier on in the season with injuries. You had an interrupted start with your groins and missed a few games. But you came back and played the second half of the season and took out the ‘brown nose’ (Coaches Award) again for the second year in a row which was a good effort.
Jordie: Unfortunately my groin issue dragged out longer than hoped but I guess that’s all a part of football. I give full credit to the medical staff for getting me back and ready to run out the season. I’ve been copping it a bit from the boys for going back to back with the Coaches Award (laughs) so I suppose I’ll just cop that one!
Jack: Now yourself Jords, you didn’t have the best run earlier on in the season with injuries. You had an interrupted start with your groins and missed a few games. But you came back and played the second half of the season and took out the ‘brown nose’ (Coaches Award) again for the second year in a row which was a good effort.
Jordie: Unfortunately my groin issue dragged out longer than hoped but I guess that’s all a part of football. I give full credit to the medical staff for getting me back and ready to run out the season. I’ve been copping it a bit from the boys for going back to back with the Coaches Award (laughs) so I suppose I’ll just cop that one!
Jack: It must have been frustrating with groin injury as it’s one of those injuries with no real time line. You thought it was going to be a few weeks injury but dragged on. How frustrating was it watching without really knowing when you’d be back out there?
Jordie: Yeah definitely frustrating. One of the worst parts of injuries is the uncertain timelines. You sort of have to play it as it comes and hope that it improves. I had a couple of weeks off initially and tried to settle it down, but then it kept getting aggravated. It’s one of those injuries that I’ll have to be careful with going forward so I’ve been doing a lot of prevention work with Pilates so hopefully that holds me in good stead for 2012.
Jords: Now, when you were in your junior ranks, you held some leadership positions with Northern Nights and AIS, has it been a focus or something that has sort of naturally come?
Jack: Well it wasn’t really a focus when I initially stated in the under 16s. I was thrown in the deep end with a leadership role. I probably never thought I’d be seen as a leader but when you are put in that situation you learn as you go and I enjoyed it. I learnt more about myself and being a leader. At the moment I’m just really keen to get out on the park and start playing because that’s the most important thing.
Jordie: Yeah definitely frustrating. One of the worst parts of injuries is the uncertain timelines. You sort of have to play it as it comes and hope that it improves. I had a couple of weeks off initially and tried to settle it down, but then it kept getting aggravated. It’s one of those injuries that I’ll have to be careful with going forward so I’ve been doing a lot of prevention work with Pilates so hopefully that holds me in good stead for 2012.
Jords: Now, when you were in your junior ranks, you held some leadership positions with Northern Nights and AIS, has it been a focus or something that has sort of naturally come?
Jack: Well it wasn’t really a focus when I initially stated in the under 16s. I was thrown in the deep end with a leadership role. I probably never thought I’d be seen as a leader but when you are put in that situation you learn as you go and I enjoyed it. I learnt more about myself and being a leader. At the moment I’m just really keen to get out on the park and start playing because that’s the most important thing.
Jack: You’re probably the bloke that does that most exercise around the Club for the prevention of injury. How much do you think that helps you get out on the track? You didn’t miss a game once you came back so it must be working well for you.
Jordie: I’ve got in a consistent injury prevention routine which has been very beneficial and as you said it has got me back for what was in the end, the bulk of the year. I’m into a routine now of knowing what my body requires to play at the top level. As time goes on, you get to know your body a lot more and what it requires. My routine is pretty down pat at the moment so I hope that holds me in good stead.
Jordie: I’ve got in a consistent injury prevention routine which has been very beneficial and as you said it has got me back for what was in the end, the bulk of the year. I’m into a routine now of knowing what my body requires to play at the top level. As time goes on, you get to know your body a lot more and what it requires. My routine is pretty down pat at the moment so I hope that holds me in good stead.
Jordie: Over the past two years we’ve been doing uni together - you, me, Chippa (James Frawley) and Pencil (Jake Spencer). How has it been for you?
Jack: It’s always good to have something other than footy to focus on. Footy takes up so much of your life, so having something outside of footy is good to keep you sane because when footy isn’t going well, your whole life can feel like it’s sort of crashing down. We’re studying exercise science so we’re learning more about the technical side of the training we do and our bodies, which is great.
Jordie: You said through your uni course you’ve been learning a lot more about the body. Is it true Jake Spencer has been focusing on his arms more than the theory side of things?
Jack: Yeah well you’d think looking at Jake that all we’ve learnt about is the bicep and triceps because that’s all he is focusing on at the moment (both laugh) I think we need to teach him about the quadriceps and the hamstring too!
Jordie: Outside of footy you’re living with your lovely girlfriend Jayde out in Templestowe. How’s that going?
Jack: Yeah it’s going really well. I’m enjoying being out of home. Being away from mum was a bit of a challenge to start with as I had to learn to cook and clean for myself. Actually I say cook and clean but Jayde does most of it! (both laugh) People always bag me about being in the other side of town in Templestowe because I’m not on Bayside like all you boys. But I’m not going anywhere, I’m staying in Tempy!
Jack: Now you’re from Terang in country Victoria. It’s obviously a fair hike to get back home. Do you get to visit your family and friends much back home?
Jordie: Yeah I haven’t got it as easy as you city slickers with the home cooked meals just next door (both laugh). Yeah I’m lucky enough to be able to get home whenever I can. Mum’s got a class of preps who I go down and visit every off season so that’s always a highlight for me. There’s a lot of boys at the club who are a four hour flight from their family and don’t get to see them as much , so in that case I’m lucky to be living so close to home in a way.
Jack: You live with your older sister Ellie who pretty much does everything for you right? And you were recently living with the big Jake Spencer who has just moved out with his girlfriend. I hear Jeremy Howe is moving in. How’s it all going?
Jordie: Me, Ellie and big Jake were living together for two years. We’ve just had our big, teary farewell when the big man moved out so we’ve parted ways. But yes, Howie is moving on it so we’re able to stay put in Carnegie and it’s all going well. But it’s a bit opposite to what you’ve said; I do most of the cooking and cleaning at home.
Jack: Now Jords, a lot of us boys play golf outside of footy but you’re not one to come for a hit. Is it because you don’t like it or what? I reckon it’s just because you’re no good at it.
Jordie: I stay away with good reason! (laughs) Although I have been dragged along to a few golf days. But my golf game is very much hit and miss so I only go on rare occasions.
Jordie: At all footy clubs there’s always a bit of carry on around the change rooms. Are there any blokes that really make you laugh or really grind your gears?
Jack: If you ask anyone this question, the answer is always James Frawley. He thinks he is funny but he’s not funny most of the time. He is the one that laughs the hardest at his own jokes.
Jack: If you ask anyone this question, the answer is always James Frawley. He thinks he is funny but he’s not funny most of the time. He is the one that laughs the hardest at his own jokes.
Also, LJ (Liam Jurrah) has come out of his shell and is hilarious. You can’t shut him up! He’s the first bloke to be throwing ice at someone or doing bombs in the ice bath. He is a funny bloke and it’s great to see how comfortable he is around all of us.
Jordie: What about Garlo... his sense of humour is dry as the Sahara Desert (both laugh).
Jordie: What about Garlo... his sense of humour is dry as the Sahara Desert (both laugh).
Jack: Garlo was the one who came up with the nick name that makes no sense for me- Good Times Grimes.
Jordie: That nickname has taken off. Apparently there was even a banner in the cheer squad with that on it. It’s a bit ironic because it’s so hard to get a smile or a laugh out of you. What do you reckon about that?
Jack: I don’t think it’s ironic at all I think it’s a genuine nickname. You hang around with me for five minutes and you have a good time! (both laugh) You’ve got a few nicknames Jords- another one from Garlo - Frenzy McKenzie or the self proclaimed Jordie the Tackle King McKenzie - when you started tackling your own team mates just to get another tackle on the board!
Jordie: Going forward, you’ve been progressing well with your off season program. How’s 2012 looking Grimsey?
Jordie: Going forward, you’ve been progressing well with your off season program. How’s 2012 looking Grimsey?
Jack: I’ll be right to do all of pre season and that’s the aim- to build that base without going overboard. I’m confident that my stress fracture will cause no problems going forward. I’m focusing on getting in a full season and play out the 22 games and have a good consistent year. That’s my number one goal.
Jack: After finishing the year off very strongly, what are your goals for next year?
Jordie: I want to get a full pre season under the belt. I also want to get stronger and work on speed and agility and hopefully that will benefit me come round 1 next year. Hopefully I can tick those boxes and going forward, cement my position in the midfield and play whatever role the coaches want me to play. I’m really looking forward to the challenges of the 2012 season.
