Australian Football

Mick Grace was a bona fide champion with the ability to play equally well both on the ball and as a key position forward. Possessing that special champion's ability of combining overall consistency with enhanced excellence when the stakes are at their highest, such as during finals or interstate games, Grace was best afield for the Maroons in their winning Grand Final of 1898, and also made telling contributions to premiership wins in 1899 (Fitzroy), 1906 and 1907 (both Carlton). He is known to have won at least two club best and fairest awards while with Fitzroy. In 1906 he topped the VFL goal kicking list for the year with 50 goals.

Grace fronted up for Carlton in the 1907 finals series having spent much of the season playing for Brighton. In 1908, his last season at league level, he helped St Kilda to qualify for the VFL major round for only the second time, but was unable to inspire his new team mates to victory against his old in a one-sided semi final that saw the Blues romp home by nearly 10 goals.

Mick Grace moved to New South Wales in 1909, where he continued to play for a time, but in 1912 he contracted tuberculosis, and within a matter of months he was dead.

Author - John Devaney