Australian Football

Originally from Jervois, Grant Tanner rose through the ranks at Norwood before making his senior SANFL debut in 1989. A skilful, smooth moving utility with good disposal skills, he was highly thought of at the Parade, although his progress was sometimes undermined by injury. In 1992 he helped South Australia to a one goal win over Western Australia at Football Park. The last of his 66 games for Norwood came in the 1993 grand final in which the Redlegs slumped to a crushing defeat at the hands of Woodville-West Torrens.

From 1994 to 1997 he played 69 AFL games and scored 28 goals in an injury-inhibited stint with Geelong. He missed the Cats’ 1994 grand final loss to West Coast but recovered from a hamstring problem in time to play in the following season’s decisive clash with Carlton, when with 18 disposals he performed serviceably but could not prevent a hefty defeat. A knee injury sustained in 1997, which required a reconstruction, brought an end to his AFL career. He later made an attempt to resume with Norwood but could only manage 10 appearances for the twos.

Author - John Devaney