THE TROPICAL laid-back surrounds of Port Douglas are not the usual setting for a footballer's injury rehabilitation.

But in the case of Melbourne defender Jack Grimes and younger brother, Richmond's Dylan, it provided the perfect getaway as they make their way back from long-term injuries.

The Grimes brothers have spent the past week holidaying in the Far North Queensland town, while recovering from recent operations. Jack's girlfriend Jayde joined the pair on the trip.

Jack required surgery after he fractured the navicular bone in his right foot in the round seven win over Adelaide while Dylan recently underwent an operation to repair a hamstring tendon.

Both Melbourne and Richmond's strength and conditioning teams agreed a week away from the usual routine would to the brothers the world of good.

"They said they thought it would be good for us to get away together so we can rehab together. It's worked out pretty well," the older Grimes brother said from the popular holiday destination.

"I guess because we both have an injury to our legs, we're doing a lot more upper body stuff. Our programs are both pretty similar.

"He's lucky enough to be back running already but we're already comparing our training programs and what to do together. It's unfortunate we're both injured but it's worked out pretty well."

Dylan might be closer to returning than his brother but the Melbourne defender said he was pleased with his own progress.

"It's coming along really well. Probably a bit quicker than we might have hoped initially. I'm still walking around in the moon boot at the moment but I'm slowly working my way out of it," Grimes said.

"Every day I'm walking a little more out of the boot. I'm gradually easing out of it because next week I get out of it for good."

Grimes has been in regular contact with teammate Colin Garland, who suffered the exact same injury and underwent the same operation two years ago.

Garland suffered a setback with his ankle this year but that was not related to the injury that kept him out for the bulk of 2009.

"I picked his brain a little bit about the sort of things he was doing with his rehab. Things that worked, things that didn't, things to look out for," Grimes said.

"He was a bit unlucky, he had a few complications with his ankle. It was more his ankle when he was coming back. But they're confident I won't have the same sort of problems."

The 22-year-old is no stranger to the sidelines, having battled groin and hip problems in his first few seasons on the list.

But in his latest layoff he says he has gone out of his way to fast track his football education.

"I'm doing a fair bit more work now with the backline coach Brian Royal. I've been watching a fair bit of footy. I went and watched Collingwood a few weeks ago with him and gave a bit of feedback on what their forwards were doing," he said.

"There are some positives about being in rehab. It's underestimated how much players can get out of watching live footy, especially if you go and watch the elite players in the competition. Heath Shaw plays that half-back role so well that it's great to learn off him by watching him live."

While he holds faint hope of returning to the Demons this year, Grimes says realistically it is a long shot.

"It's the sort of injury that you don't really want to rush back even if it's feeling good because you just want to give it the right amount of time to heal properly," he said.

"I might be an outside chance if the Dees go deep in the finals but then I'd still have to get a spot back in the team. I don't think it's likely."

Luke Holmesby covers Melbourne news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_LHolmesby.