Shepparton Swans’ Mitch Grumley has signed a VFL contract.
Mitchell Grumley is trading bloods culture for Shinboner spirit.
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The Shepparton Swans star has signed with North Melbourne’s VFL list for season 2026, providing an opportunity for the burgeoning footballer to stake his claim at the next level.
The 19-year-old played nine games for the Princess Park tenants in 2025, including a four-goal display against eventual premier Kyabram, while Grumley also featured twice for the Murray Bushrangers as an overage player.
It was an injury-interrupted season though, having to patiently wait on the sidelines following a stress fracture in his knee sustained during pre-season.
But with a return to fitness Grumley’s aim to take his game to the next level was hashed out.
“The idea of playing VFL came about towards the end of the season, I was looking for a bit of exposure and my manager had a few options for me,” Grumley said.
“St Kilda reached out as well as the (Greater Western Sydney) Giants.”
North Melbourne was the lucky bidder, however, with Grumley starting his experience at Arden St as a train-on recruit.
Three AFL-aligned VFL clubs pursued Mitchell Grumley this off-season.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The young gun travelled twice a week to train with the AFL-aligned program and felt he was in a good spot pre-Christmas, but it was an intra-club match that Grumley believes caught the list manager’s eye.
“We had an intra-club a week before Christmas and I played well and, a week after we got back from the break, I was offered the contract,” Grumley said.
From his short stint already, Grumley is absorbing valuable lessons from the experienced Kangaroos squad.
“The intensity of training has been the big difference, it’s intense the whole time, it gets harder and tougher, everyone’s getting better each session,” he said.
“It’s a good challenge.”
But the excitement doesn’t end there for Grumley – another significant opportunity has come about for the 19-year-old.
A second intra-club match is set for the winger, but this time Grumley will kick alongside the Roos’ AFL unit on Wednesday.
Playing against childhood heroes and the sport’s finest could leave many awestruck, but for Grumley, “nothing changes”.
“I’ll just try play relaxed, play my style of game,” Grumley said.
“It’s exciting, but nothing changes really.”
The opportunities for the Grumley family don’t end with Mitchell either.
Grumley confirmed younger brother Flynn, who finished his Murray Bushrangers program last year, will be training with GWS at its Albury VFL hub.
Flynn Grumley (left) will train with GWS’ VFL side during the season.
The regional hub was launched 12 months ago by the interstate team and is used to train potential top-up players for the VFL season.
It could have the youngest Grumley don the orange and charcoal and break into state league action like his brother in 2026.
But should the pair not be playing VFL, it’ll get more Goulburn Valley League games under its belt at Shepparton Swans.
While Grumley hasn’t been able to train with his community club since joining North Melbourne, he’s still confident in the red and white’s prospects for 2026.
“We’ll definitely be competitive, but it’s a good league that’s only getting stronger,” he said.
“Teams are recruiting well this off-season, so we’ll see what happens.”
Grumley joins Oliver Warburton (Carlton) as a VFL-listed Swan for the 2026 GVL season, as the club aims for back-to-back finals appearances.
The Swans take on Mooroopna in a round one night game on Saturday, April 4.
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