Australian Football

Ken Grimley was a powerful ruckman/key forward with Wilston Grange and Coorparoo. He commenced with Grange in 1949 as a junior, having previously played Rugby League at school, and went on to become one of the club's great players, and a key member of the club's first premiership side in 1955. Venturing to Victoria in 1957, he kicked six goals in his first full game for Fitzroy, against Geelong at Kardinia Park, but returned home to Brisbane after just one year (nine games and 16 goals) in the VFL. 

Grimley was responsible for re-naming the club ‘Gorillas’ after his time with the then Fitzroy Gorillas. He played a total of 252 QAFL games, including six consecutive QAFL grand finals from 1959 to 1964, having joined Coorparoo in 1960, before finishing his career back at Grange. 

He represented Queensland 22 times, and was captain of the undefeated State teams in 1963-4, and won the Grogan Medal in 1964, after being runner-up in 1961. Grimley was also the QAFL leading goal kicker in 1956 (and thereby awarded the Hughson Medal. He and son Brett are the only Queensland father/son combination to play VFL football, while his other son Jason was also a State representative.

Author - Murray Bird and Peter Blucher, with additional material from Adam Cardosi