Former Richmond coach Terry Wallace believes a low disposal count was the reason why Tigers defender Dylan Grimes failed to make this year’s All-Australian side.
Grimes made the initial squad of 40, but missed out on a spot in the 22 with the likes of Adelaide’s Rory Laird and Geelong’s Tom Stewart getting the nod ahead of the premiership Tiger.
Wallace is adamant the higher numbers accumulated by Laird and Stewart was the reason why Grimes was left out, despite proving himself as one of the most versatile and best one-on-one defenders in the competition.
“I watched Dylan Grimes play his entire under 18 season as a full-back,” Wallace told SEN Afternoons.
“He was playing in the under 18s undersized. You think about how skinny he is now, you imagine what he was like playing as an under 18.
“And it was exactly the same reason why he didn’t get picked up in the National Draft – because his stats weren’t sexy.
“It’s exactly the same reason why he’s potentially missed out on All-Australian selection and exactly the same reason he missed out on the National Draft.
“He does all the right things, but the numbers aren’t sexy.
“You look at them and you compare them to other blokes, Grimes just gets the job done.”
Listen to Terry Wallace’s chat on SEN Afternoons with Andy Maher in the player below