Jarrad Grant has re-signed with the Western Bulldogs, rebuffing interest from the Brisbane Lions.
Grant has signed a two-year contract extension to stay at the Whitten Oval, after reviving his career in the last eight rounds of last season.
The enigmatic forward spent time in the VFL reserves on his way back from early-season injury, but kicked 13 goals and found his best-ever form after rejoining the side in round 16.
With Stewart Crameri likely to join the club from Essendon, the Dogs view Grant as part of a multi-facted forward line in the making, and did not want to lose to the Lions.
Grant met with Brisbane last week, but was always inclined to stay with the Bulldogs and decided to accept the club’s improved offer rather than seek a trade.
Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney said Grant had worked hard in the last half of the season to turn his year around, and that coach Brendan McCartney had helped the 24-year-old find and earn his spot in the side.
“Jarrad wasn’t setting the world on fire early in the year, even at VFL level, but a lot of people at the club held on to the belief that he might be a better player in a better side,” he said.
“He’s got genuine talent, we know that. His footy smarts are of a really high quality, and we were playing better when he came back into the side. We were starting to generate a lot more forward 50 entries, so that helped him go to work.
“The coach put a lot of faith in him, and full credit to Jarrad for being able to work hard to turn things around. He certainly resurrected his career in those last eight games.”
Grant was the Bulldogs’ first choice in the 2007 draft, and has played 58 games since the club selected him at No. 5.
