After eight years on the North Melbourne list and 86 games, Nathan Grima has announced his retirement from the AFL, effective immediately.
The 29-year-old had a set-back in his recovery in recent weeks and received advice from specialists to undergo another operation, this time to fuse a disc in his spine to alleviate his pain and symptoms.
It will be Grima’s third back operation.
The key-defender was taken by North Melbourne with pick 14 in the 2008 Rookie Draft but had a horror run with injuries throughout his career.
Various operations on his knees, ankles, fingers, feet and hands over his journey kept him on the sidelines and caused him to miss around 100 games of football.
He missed the entire 2008 season with a knee injury before making his debut in 2009 against Geelong in Round 8.
Grima played 13 games that season and the following year, he managed a career high 17 games. A total he matched in 2013.
A formidable competitor, Grima was considered an elite runner when fit and often won North’s pre-season time-trials. His value on the field as a key defender was immense and despite being handed jobs on much bigger opponents, he always held his own.
A tremendous reader of the play, the Tasmanian was as an effective spoiler as any backman in the competition.
Grima was also a valued leader on and off the field and at one stage, he was in line to succeed Brent Harvey as captain of the club, but injury ultimately denied him the opportunity.
Grima’s most famous career highlight didn’t come in the back half but instead, when he briefly played as a forward late in a game in 2013. Playing with an injured foot against Essendon at Etihad Stadium, he slotted his first goal in 72 games after being sent to full-forward.
Nathan Grima
Drafted: Pick 14, 2008 Rookie Draft
Games: 86
Av. Disposals: 16.7
Av. Marks: 5.4
Career highs:
29 disposals (21 kicks, 8 handballs), 12 marks and 4 tackles in Round 12 against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium, 2012
27 disposals (16 kicks, 11 handballs), 8 marks in Round 19 against Fremantle at Etihad Stadium, 2010
26 disposals (14 kicks, 12 handballs), 10 marks in Round 20 against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, 2010
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