Grant to jump straight into coaching

Former North Melbourne champion Shannon Grant will jump straight into coaching just a month after retiring from the AFL.

Grant, whose 301-game career drew to a close following North’s elimination final defeat to Sydney, will coach VFL club Frankston for the next two years.

The 1999 Norm Smith Medallist has taken up the position at the Dolphins in an effort to build experience before he tries to land a coaching role at an AFL club.

Grant had been alerted about the Dolphins’ coaching vacancy after recently returning from North’s end of season footy trip in Las Vegas.

A meeting with the VFL club’s administration sealed the deal.

“Shannon stands out because he’s come straight out of an AFL environment and is in tune with some modern strategies,” Frankston president Jay McGrath said today.

“He’s spent a couple nights a week last year doing some voluntary work with the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup and given that 80 to 90 per cent of the youngsters come through the TAC Cup, he’ll develop our team.

“He can add some spark and a bit of excitement around place.”

The fact Frankston are a stand-alone VFL club - with no ties to an AFL club - appealed to Grant.

Grant will replace former Melbourne defender Brett Lovett at Frankston, who spent the past six years as the Dolphins coach.

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