Where Are They Now: Mick Grasso

Mick Grasso might have just had a six-year stint at Swan Districts before the pull to return to the South-West was too strong and that’s where he remains today, but what he achieved in that time made him a favourite son at Bassendean.

Grasso was already playing senior football in the South West Football League at South Bunbury as a 16-year-old, so by the time he arrived at Swan Districts to make his WAFL debut as a 20-year-old in 1987 he was ready to make an immediate impact.

Over the next six years, Grasso had a remarkable impact at Swan Districts and by the time he left at the end of the 1992 season, he had been a star in the 1990 premiership team, he won the 1990 Sandover Medal, he was twice a Swan Medallist and cemented in the history books with the black-and-whites.

He was still only 25 years of age when he played his last game with Swans in the first semi-final loss to East Perth at Subiaco Oval, but he couldn’t wait to return home to the South-West, and was satisfied to have given his best shot and achieved all he hoped in the WAFL.

When looking back on that six-year run with Swan Districts that provided a lifetime full of memories, Grasso looks back with tremendous fondness.

“Started at Swan Districts in 1987 seems like an eternity ago or another lifetime lol, but at the time you think it will last forever,” Grasso said.

“John Todd and the football club gave me an opportunity and was very fortunate I was able to travel up from Bunbury in 1987 with a good friend and South Bunbury teammate in Peter Old.

“Oldy was great he was a seasoned player and champion at South Bunbury. He was a great influence and his experience and guidance in the two years we travelled up together certainly helped get the best out of me.”

The 1990 season is one that many long-time fans of Swan Districts will remember with great fondness for the rest of their lives and Grasso was at the centre of it all.

By the end of the year, Swans had broken through for a first premiership since the hat-trick of flags from 1981-82-83 having bounced back from a losing first semi-final to East Fremantle in 1987 and then not making the finals at all in the 1988 and 1989 seasons.

John Todd returned as coach and not only did Swan Districts win the 1990 premiership with the grand final triumph against Claremont, but Grasso would prove to be the standout player in the WAFL competition.

He finished the year with the Sandover Medal and a Swan Medal as the club’s fairest and best recipient, and understandably, it’s a year Grasso will never forget.

“Certainly was a year to remember,” Grasso said.

“We struggled for two years previous not playing finals then Toddy was re-appointed in 1990 after two years at the Eagles and he laid the foundation and set pretty high standards.

“The club recruited well and we had great mix, a number of young guys who had played 40-80 league games and also a number of very experienced senior players like Phil Narkle, Don Holmes, Peter Hodyl, Brad Shine, Don Langsford, Len Gandini, Kim Hetherington and Brent Hutton.

“They were all fantastic leaders on and off the field which helped steer us to a premiership in 1990. Winning the Swan Medal in 1990 amongst the wonderful footballers we had that year was a high point, winning the Sandover Medal was an honour and a fantastic bonus.”

When he looks back, Grasso has no doubt that he wouldn’t have been able to fit in so seamlessly playing at Swan Districts like he did to win a Swan Medal in 1988 if it hadn’t been for the grounding he already had playing senior football with South Bunbury.

“I played over 60 league games at South Bunbury before deciding to give the WAFL a go,” he said.

“I don’t think it would have been a success if I hadn’t played those games, it certainly helped playing against some pretty tough and talented footballers in the SWFL in the mid 80s.”

Following the tough run of foot, hamstring and achilles injuries that Grasso suffered throughout the 1991 and 1992 seasons, he decided his time in the WAFL at Swan Districts was ready to come to an end.

That was despite him being able to return from a long layoff with a foot injury in 1991 to star in the finals and kick seven goals in a losing preliminary final outing against Subiaco.

He was also able to get up to play the last three games of the 1992 home and away season, and the two finals that year, but the toll on his body and being away from home was too much so he returned to Bunbury in 1993.

Ultimately it wasn’t a hard to decision and he was able to go back to play with South Bunbury and enjoy some more success, and then move into coaching roles eventually.

“Pretty easy really, I was back at South Bunbury in 1993 and it was just like going home playing with mates,” Grasso said.

“We had a fantastic team that year and capped it all of winning the premiership. I played another three years and then had some time out before returning as an assistant coach in 2009 and 2010.

“I was then senior coach in 2011 and 2012, and really enjoyed coaching especially the young kids who went on to forge wonderful careers themselves.”

While Grasso hasn’t had too much direct involvement in football since that head coaching role at South Bunbury, he still enjoys the game and couldn’t be happier with the life he has with wife Wendy in Australind now.

“I don’t have any direct involvement at any level, but I do go and watch my nephew play for South Bunbury year 10s each week so I do enjoy watching the juniors,” he said.

“Yeh I can’t complain, live in Australind and been married to Wendy for 29 years. We have no children, but have plenty of nieces and nephews.

“We love living in Australind, work from home as an Account Manager which is great. The company Winc Australia is very flexible with my role.”

When looking back and while Grasso might have only spent six years with Swan Districts and played 93 WAFL games, he will forever treasure that time and the club will always hold a special place in his heart.

“I feel very fortunate the Swan Districts Football Club had given me the opportunity to try out firstly and then allowed me to travel up weekly as without this it may have never happened,” Grasso said.

“I loved everything about the club and still to this day it has the best supporters in WAFL, the whole club was very welcoming not only to myself but all the players who travelled up from the country regions.

“They also made my family who travelled up most Saturdays to watch the games at Bassendean feel very welcomed.”