Three-time premiership Richmond veteran decides on future

Richmond defender Dylan Grimes has called time on his illustrious career, playing 234 games and winning three premierships across 15 years.

Grimes - who was initially overlooked in the 2009 National Draft - will finish his time at Punt Road as a club captain, Jack Dyer medallist, All-Australian and two-time winner of the Francis Bourke Award.

The Northern Knights product has been a stalwart for the Tigers in defence, being a beacon of determination and perseverance as the club returned to premiership relevancy from 2017 onwards.

“The Club had plenty of reasons to throw in the towel with me over many years with surgeries, form slumps or whatever (else)," Grimes said.

“There is a part of me that has had a chip on my shoulder for my entire career to try and repay the debt I felt like I owed the Club.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Toby Greene of the Giants is tackled by Dylan Grimes of the Tigers during the 2017 AFL Second Preliminary Final match between the Richmond Tigers and the GWS Giants at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 23, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

“Almost everything good in my life, I have because of here, so thank you.”

Despite closing the page on this chapter of his life, Grimes is excited by what the future will hold.

“To be a great Club you need to have great people, and this place is blessed with some of the best that there is,” Grimes added.

“I will miss the thrill of the contest, and I will miss the incredible feeling of playing in front of the best fans in the world… But I leave with no regrets and just a sense of pride for everything we have achieved together.”

Richmond Chief Executive Officer Brendon Gale said Grimes would go down as one of the club's all-time greats.

Dylan Grimes during the 2022 AFL Round 19 match between Richmond and Fremantle (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

“Dylan arrived at the Club via the Pre-Season Draft, and straight away, you could tell that he was going to be a player that got everything out of himself, which 15 years later has certainly come to fruition,” Gale said.

“His importance to our team and Club across a long period has been profound, and his contribution to our era of success has been outstanding.

“In a role that does not always receive the plaudits, Dylan exemplified, and he was respected and admired across the league as a top-line quality player.

“Dylan had a wonderful career and is one of our most decorated players, but his legacy at the Club as a great teammate will be the most lasting.

“On behalf of everyone at Richmond, we cannot thank Dylan enough for what he did for our Club. He was a heart and soul footballer and will forever be a Richmond Man.”