Grima suffered the injury in last week's match against Essendon and it became a blessing in disguise; helping him achieve a lifelong aim to kick a goal in an AFL match.
Brad Scott intended to sub the number 17 off at three-quarter time at Etihad Stadium, but was forced to send him forward when Leigh Adams complained about a knee issue and needed to be given the red vest. It resulted in a dream come true for Grima when he snapped a goal on his non-preferred minutes into the term and indulged in a celebration unlike any other. Despite revelling in the spotlight for the best part of the week and capping things off on Friday with the announcement of a new one-year contract, he'll now have to look ahead to 2014 for his next career highlight.
North director of medical services Steve Saunders says while the operation is 'very minor', Grima couldn't risk allowing the injury to heal on its own.
"There's a little piece of bone in his foot which has always been there, but he's strained a joint, loaded up the area and the ligament around it. These things can take some time to settle. In the elite young sporting population often once they're aggravated, they can cause ongoing trouble so he's seen a specialist who thinks the best course of action is to go in and just remove that little bit of bone.
"It's unlikely to settle within four to six weeks and there's every chance going forward, we could get part-way through the next pre-season and have the same thing happen to him again.
"It's a smarter move to have a little procedure now rather than hope the injury settles by itself and doesn't happen again."
Scans seen by NMFC.com.au show the tiny piece of bone fragment floating above one of Grima's joints.
"That little bit of extra bone has been there for a long time but has never given him any trouble," Saunders explained.
"So what's happened is, he's landed awkwardly irritating the joint and the bone. It's quite painful for him."
Injuries have plagued Grima throughout his career and by having the operation now, he'll be in the best position to endure a full pre-season; something he's not been able to do before.
"It's very similar to a procedure Levi Greenwood had a while back and it enabled him to have a full pre-season, so we anticipate the same out come for Nathan."
