Dylan Grimes
A defensive pillar whose courage and tactical discipline anchored Richmond's modern dynasty, transforming the Tigers into a triple-premiership force.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Australian rules footballer·Birthday: July 16·Millennials
Biography
Dylan Grimes's path to becoming one of Australian football's most respected defenders was anything but straightforward. Plucked from suburban obscurity in the 2010 rookie draft, the tall, wiry Victorian initially battled persistent hamstring injuries that threatened to derail his career before it began. His perseverance, however, became his signature. Under the coaching of Damien Hardwick, Grimes evolved from a raw athlete into the cerebral, selfless backbone of Richmond's famed defensive system. He mastered the art of the spoil and the crucial one-percent effort, acts that don't always fill stat sheets but win finals. His leadership, often vocal and always by example, was formally recognized when he was named co-captain in 2022. Grimes's story is one of a player who built an elite career not on natural flair, but on an uncompromising work ethic and a profound understanding of team structure, making him indispensable to one of the AFL's great modern teams.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Dylan was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dylan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Dylan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won three AFL premierships with Richmond in 2017, 2019, and 2020.
- Earned All-Australian selection in 2019, recognizing him as one of the league's best defenders.
- Awarded the AFL Players Association's Robert Rose Most Courageous Player Award in 2019.
- Appointed co-captain of the Richmond Football Club ahead of the 2022 season.
Did You Know?
He studied a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne, majoring in physiology.
His older brother, Jack, also played in the AFL for the Melbourne Football Club.
He was selected by Richmond with pick No. 2 in the 2010 pre-season draft.
“I had to earn every bit of trust through relentless, physical work.”
