MAGAREY MEDALLISTS

1977 - Trevor Foster Grimwood

The 1977 Magarey Medal win by Trevor Grimwood completed one of the greatest ‘rags to riches’ stories in SANFL history.  Grimwood came to West Adelaide in 1974 after only 33 games with Port Adelaide in the previous three seasons and even these games came after an early career at Norwood in junior and Reserves ranks, followed by several seasons with his home town, Meadows.
 
Although his courage and determination were never in question, his perceived lack of pace and fitness had held him back.  His league career seemed over until Fos Williams, then West coach, convinced him to have one more try.
 
It didn’t take long for William’s faith to be justified, Grimwood’s effective ball-gathering and crumbing soon becoming clearly the best in the league.  His prolific ball-getting skills initiated so many attacks and his strong attack on the ball was so apparent that he soon became a strong favourite for the 1976 Magarey Medal.  His third place that year preceded his clear and comfortable win the following year.  Merv Agars, in “Bloods, Sweat & Tears” wrote that “his victory was a tribute to his perseverance and his courage, especially as he was often hampered by a painful hamstring injury, which regularly necessitated pain-killing injections to keep him in the game”.
 
Trevor Grimwood was often seen as a ‘battler’, but he triumphed where many more naturally talented players didn’t.  To win a Magarey Medal shows a player is far more than a battler.  To win the medal by so comfortable a margin in a competition with so many talented SANFL players recognises not only his courage and tenacity, but also his skill.

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