Tara Murray
Western Bulldogs excitement machine Elaine Grigg was as stunned as anyone when it was announced that she was the AFLW round eight rising star nominee.
Grigg, became the first Kenyan-born AFLW or AFL player to be nominated for the award, for her performance against Carlton.
She laid a match-high 10 tackles, kicked a goal and had a career-high 13 disposals in the Bulldogs’ 33 point win.
Grigg has played every game since debuting in round one.
“I think I’m really excited about it,” she said about the nomination.“I had no clue as you can tell in the video, [I’m] just excited for all the hard work that I’ve put in to be recognised which is good.”
Grigg moved to Australia at age eight and took to Australian rules football through her stepdad’s passion for the sport. Grigg played community footy with Broadview before being drafted last year.
The 165 centimetre small forward is currently averaging 5.2 tackles per game and has laid the third-most tackles for the Bulldogs this season.
Grigg said like her team, she felt she’d had an up and down season.
“I’ve tried to find consistency throughout the whole season, keep my pressure and my tackling and that is what I’m best at,” she said. “If I bring that I know that I’ll have a really good game.”
Grigg’s tackling has been the highlight of her game so far.
She puts it down to her basketball background when she committed a lot of fouls, as well as her speed.
While only eight games into her career, Grigg has quickly become a fan favourite and a bit of a cult hero.
“I think it’s a bit weird at first,people calling out my name,” she said. “[I was like] oh my god.
“It’s definitely a good thing… And it’s really good to see everyone supporting the Bulldogs.”
Grigg said De Berry and Ellie Blackburn had been a massive help in the off season and even just having chats after training.
She said Naomi Ferres had also played a massive role in her time at the Bulldogs so far.
“Fez [Ferres] has really helped me with my skills,” she said. “We’re always in here before every training to do ground balls and marking and stuff like that.”
Grigg said the group was hoping to get a couple more wins to finish the season.
