When Mick Grasso made his league debut for Swan Districts in round one of the 1987 season, he was better prepared than most first gamers, having chalked up sixty two league games with South Bunbury in the tough South West Football League.“I had grown up a keen West Perth supporter, with Peter Menaglio and Les Fong my heroes,” he said. “How do you reckon I felt when I’m picked in a back pocket on the resting rovers and they’re the two rovers?”  In a nailbiter, Swans won by two points, but Grasso was dropped to the reserves the following week. The exile lasted just one game, however, and he was back in the league side for round three, and stayed there.Mick Grasso was an outstanding junior at Marist Junior Football Club in Bunbury before playing colts at the age of fifteen at South Bunbury and was in the league side by the time he turned sixteen, with two premierships under his belt at eighteen.  Despite his ability, the youngster had no inclination to try out in the WAFL until Swan Districts coach John Todd paid him a visit at the end of the 1986 season. With another Bunbury player, Peter Old, accompanying him, Grasso made the trip to the WACA ground to play in the pre season Kresta Cup, and the pair continued to travel for two seasons. Old decided to stay at home after the 1988 season having played forty one games with the black and whites. Mick soon established himself as a determined and skilful running defender, with the ability to read the play, his consistency also a feature. Beaten in the first semi final of 1987 by East Fremantle, Swans won only five games the following year (1988), with the loss of coach John Todd and several key personnel. Mick followed that with the Swan Districts fairest and best, and played in Vancouver, Canada, with a composite Western Australian side in an exhibition match against South Australia. They improved to nine wins in 1989 before the return of Todd as coach fired them to a flag in 1990.   A member of an outstanding premiership combination who turned the tables on Claremont after being beaten by the same side in the second semi final, Grasso enjoyed a stellar season. A strong poller in Sandover Medal voting in each of his previous three seasons, he went one better in 1990 with his name announced as winner of the prestigious award.  1990 was definitely a year to remember, with  a Premiership, Sandover Medal and another Swans fairest and best. The fortunes of football changed for Grasso in round two of the 1991 season, when Perth’s Scott Spalding landed on his leg, the impact resulting in a broken foot, which sidelined him for the bulk of the year. Making his return with the seconds in the last two home and away games, Mick was picked in the league side for the first semi final, ironically against the Demons, and the eighty eight point victory would have been sweet for him, although playing in an unaccustomed position as a forward. Grasso reveled in his new role, albeit in a losing side, a week later when Swan Districts came up against Subiaco in the preliminary final. He booted seven goals from a forward pocket, but his efforts were nullified by the display from Subiaco goal sneak Todd Breman, whose ten majors were a major factor in the Lions win.  Injury dogged Grasso again in 1992, playing just thirteen games for the year, having sustained Achilles and hamstring problems which ruined a season and forced his retirement from league football.  “Although I had been living in Perth for several seasons, I was missing the country life.  I had missed the boat with the AFL draft , so at the age of twenty seven with niggling injuries I decided to return home,” he recalled. Mick lined up with South Bunbury once again in 1993, just in time to be part of another premiership, before accepting a captain coaching appointment at West Arthur two seasons later. He returned to the red and whites in 1996, and retired at the end of that year, after playing a hundred and twelve games to add to his ninety three at Bassendean. Mick captained aWA Country State side on his return and was made a country All Australian in 1994.After having a break from football, Grasso  returned to the South Bunbury fold as assistant coach to Mark Bayliss, before taking  over the senior job. The Tigers were grand finalists, but lost to Augusta- Margaret River.         An account manager with Corporate Express, an office supply company, Mick Grasso also has a passion for greyhound racing these days, having had some good performers in the past including Buckle up Eric, Regal Miss and Jekyll.  He and wife Wendy enjoy travel whenever possible, having done Europe and trips around Australia in the past, and a Las Vegas tour is featuring strongly in Wendy’s list of things to do.Peter Menaglio, Darren Bewick, Stephen Green, and Peter Spencer are opponents Mick rated highly, while Phil Narkle, Don Holmes, Danny Penny, and Bill Skwirowski are some of many fine players he played with.In his six seasons of WAFL football Mick Grasso certainly made his mark, with a Sandover Medal, dual club fairest and best (1988-1990) and obviously the most treasured memory a WAFL Premiership. A consistently strong performer for Swan Districts, in good years and bad, he can look back with satisfaction on a fine career.