Jarrad Grant Biography

After being cut by the Suns, Jarrad Grant says his inability to put on weight was the bane of his career.

"I was never going to become a key forward," he said.

"I've barely put on a kilo since I arrived at the Western Bulldogs, so it's just unfortunate doing weights doesn't help some body types."

Grant, however, says he has little regrets about his career otherwise.

"To be around 10 years and only have a nine-game average per season, you could say I've battled through my career, but to me it's nothing to be disappointed in," Grant said.

"You look at all the blokes trying to play League footy, so to play 95 games and kick 94 goals is an achievement in itself.

"I've been pretty resilient hanging around for a decade, had some good moments, some downers, but overall, it's been fantastic.

"But I don't think I have anything to offer at AFL level being 28 now with most clubs looking to play the kids."

Gold Coast delist five players including Jarrad Grant and Mitch Hallahan as well as rookies Ryan Davis, Keegan Brooksby and Cam Loersch.

After spending eight seasons at the Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast recruit Jarrad Grant says he was surprised not to be offered a new contract at the end of 2015.

"I thought I had my best season at AFL level last year," Grant said.

"We had some tough conversations, some good conversations, but at the end of the day the club didn't want me there any longer.

"I've got a lot of close friends there and spent a lot of time there, (but) footy is a ruthless industry and sometimes the cards don't fall in your favour."

Chris Grant is appointed as the Western Bulldogs' new director of football which will involve running both the club's female and male teams.

"Chris' appointment acknowledges the evolving football landscape, and puts us in a strong position to deliver an elite performance environment for all three teams [women, men and VFL] going forward," Bulldogs CEO David Stevenson said.

Jarrad Grant undergoes surgery on a fractured wrist suffered on a training ride, but is expected to play the final NAB Challenge match against Adelaide on March 11.

"Jarrad injured his wrist after he came off his bike during a cycling session on Saturday morning," Gold Coast general manager of football operations Marcus Ashcroft said.

"Scans that afternoon revealed he had fractured a bone in his wrist and he had surgery on Tuesday to insert a pin."

Former Bulldog and Gold Coast recruit Jarrad Grant says he is optimistic about the Suns in 2016.

"It's a young list, and there's a lot of exciting players and high draft picks," Grant said.

"I do see this club (achieving something) similar in 2016 to what the Bulldogs did this year. I think they can make a rise quickly up the ladder with everyone on the park."

Jarrad Grant will get a chance to revive his AFL career at Gold Coast, after the Suns claimed the former Western Bulldogs forward as a delisted free agent.

"I couldn't think of a more exciting club to join. I know a lot of people at the Suns and I take great confidence that they have faith in me to play the role they're after," Grant said.

"Having played under 'Rocket' before, I know what he is after, know what he expects and I just can't wait to get up there and start."

Grant has been delisted by the Western Bulldogs after failing to find a new home in the NAB AFL Trade Period.

Grant, who was an unrestricted free agent, was free to move to the club of his choice during the exchange period and explored every option after the Bulldogs chose not to approach him about a new deal.

His manager Anthony McConville confirmed on Friday that Grant was scheduled to return from overseas next week, when a decision would be made on his next step.

Jarrad Grant could exercise his free agency rights, with the Western Bulldogs yet to offer him a new contract.

Grant is an unrestricted free agent, meaning the Bulldogs would not be able to prevent him from leaving the club if he chose to do so.

Grant's manager, Anthony McConville, said his client would explore all available options.

"Jarrad Grant hasn't been offered a contract and at this stage of the season you have to think it's unlikely," McConville said.

"With this uncertainty, he's got to be looking at options."

Jarrad Grant says he will welcome the challenge of being swung through midfield next season as new Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge implements a more unpredictable playing style.

"That's something you could say he (Beveridge) has brought across as part of his philosophy," Grant said.

"A lot of guys are learning different roles that they haven't (played) in previous years.

"It can confuse opposition teams with a lot of guys being able to roll through certain positions.

"Hopefully we can turn that into a little bit of a strength."

Jarrad Grant is heading back to school, with Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney forecasting a role in opposition analysis while the forward's fractured foot heals.

"We have a great opportunity now to put some good conditioning into him and broaden his game sense," McCartney told AFL.com.au this week.

"We're going to put him to work with some opposition analysis and help develop the mental side of his game.

"He's also got a unique opportunity to put his toe in the water with other things in life too and look at careers away from the game and his future life.

"The prognosis is, he'll mend and get back to playing. He'll bounce back and resume his career."

Jarrad Grant will miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery for a fractured foot suffered at training.

"Jarrad got landed on in a tackle on Friday, and subsequently sustained a fracture to his left foot, which scans later confirmed," club medical services manager Andrew McKenzie said in a statement.

"Jarrad underwent surgery yesterday and is expected to remain in a boot for the next six weeks."

Jarrad Grant re-signs with the Bulldogs for two years, knocking back an offer from the Lions.

"He's got genuine talent, we know that. His footy smarts are of a really high quality, and we were playing better when he came back into the side. We were starting to generate a lot more forward 50 entries, so that helped him go to work," Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney said.

"The coach put a lot of faith in him, and full credit to Jarrad for being able to work hard to turn things around. He certainly resurrected his career in those last eight games."

Negotiations between Jarrad Grant's management and the Western Bulldogs are ongoing regarding the key forward's future at the club.

A one-year deal has been offered but Grant is seeking the security of a two-year deal.

"He's out of contract at the moment and we have a meeting with the Bulldogs today … and we'll know more beyond that I suppose," Grant's manager Anthony McConville said.

"We're still having discussions with the Bulldogs. They have offered us a contract and we will work through that and decisions will be made thereafter."

Matthew Watson will miss the rest of the season after fracturing his left foot when his kicking attempt was smothered by the leg of Bulldogs forward Jarrad Grant during their clash in the second quarter.

Watson played on briefly in obvious discomfort before spending the rest of the match on the bench.

"I went for a kick and I followed through and hit one of the Bulldogs players in his foot or his shin," Watson said.

"The doc thought it was ligament damage, got a few scans and it showed a hairline fracture at the top of my foot.

"I'll be in a (moon) boot for the next three to four weeks and then I'll be back for pre-season."

Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney says Jarrad Grant is ready to take the next step up in his career after the forward booted three goals and played a significant hand in several others against West Coast.

"The talent has always been there, the urgency hasn't been there at times," McCartney said.

"We're getting a bit more of a connection between the two and getting a good benefit out of it. I'm really happy for Jarrad, to be honest, and so are his teammates.

"He's a good kid around the club, he's popular, and we all want him to do well. He's helping us play good footy at the moment."

Western Bulldogs forward Jarrad Grant has offered a brutal self-assessment of his failings in 2011.

"I had a pretty poor year and I was really disappointed in myself," he said.

"The coaches expected more out of me too, and fair enough. The team wasn't going well and my form wasn't helping at all. My consistency was a bit wavy - up and down.

"I have high expectations of myself and when I'm not performing up to that level, like last year, I tend to get a bit down on myself.

"And that negative stuff doesn't help you when you're trying to find some form to stay in the team, or to get back in the team."

Jarrad Grant is bulking up to help fill the void in the Bulldogs' forward line left by Barry Hall's retirement.

"Macca (new coach McCartney) has made it clear to me I will get a lot of time in the gym, so it will be a big emphasis for me," Grant said.

"I have put on 3kg already and there is even more emphasis now I am back at training."

Chris Grant is appointed to the board of the Western Bulldogs.

Bulldog Jarrad Grant earns the Round 17 Rising Star nominee after booting three goals from 20 disposal against Fremantle.

"The nomination is a tremendous recognition for Jarrad's efforts, he has fitted into the side really well and has now cemented his spot. He provides tremendous support for players like Barry Hall and Brad Johnson in our forward line," Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said.

The Bulldogs express their frustration at the AFL's criteria for Rising Star nominations after forward Jarrad Grant was again overlooked.

"How do they decide? There is a groundswell from clubs to have a definitive judging criteria. How does it work?" Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia asked.

"It would be good to have clarity around how they measure it, or who qualifies each week. We don't play for individual awards, but it would be nice for him to be recognised."

Bulldogs forward Jarrad Grant says his development has improved after playing with veteran players in Jason Akermanis, Robert Murphy, Brad Johnson and Barry Hall.

"There are a lot of guys who have had great careers so far and they're all very different in the way they go about it," Grant said.

"Watching on over the last two years, I've learnt a lot of things off Aker, Johnno, Murph and obviously Hally this year. It is terrific to be able to watch guys like that."

Prized Western Bulldogs draft pick Jarrad Grant is poised to make his debut against Carlton on Sunday.

Jarrad Grant has strung together two good performances for Williamstown, but Seagulls coach Brad Gotch says is still learning the tricks of playing forward.

Bulldogs recruit Jarrad Grant is stung by a stingray while training with teammates off a beach on Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay.

Grant was taken to The Alfred hospital for treatment before being released on crutches.

Although named as an emergency in the NAB Cup match against Essendon, Grant is not expected to play.