Ilija Grgic

{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}

{{Use Australian English|date=October 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Ilija Grgic

| image =

| fullname = Ilija Grgic

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|3|5|df=yes}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = MHS Old Boys

| height = 203 cm

| weight = 106 kg

| position = Ruckman

| statsend = 1999

| years1 = 1993 – 1996

| club1 = Footscray

| games_goals1 = 62 {{0}}(92)

| years2 = 1997 – 1998

| club2 = West Coast

| games_goals2 = 23 {{0}}(15)

| years3 = 1999

| club3 = Essendon

| games_goals3 = {{0}}2 {{0|00}}(0)

| games_goalstotal = 87 (107)

| careerhighlights = *AFL Rising Star nominee: 1993

}}

Ilija Grgic (born 5 March 1972) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray, the West Coast Eagles and Essendon in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the 1990s.

Grgic was recruited from Melbourne High School Old Boys and made nine appearances in his debut season in 1993, for a return of 19 goals. He also received a nomination for the 1993 AFL Rising Star award and kicked a bag of six goals in a win over North Melbourne at the MCG. An injury to Scott Wynd in 1994 gave Grgic was role of number one ruckman at Footscray and he was awarded nine Brownlow Medal votes for his efforts over the course of the season, finishing with 217 hit-outs and 27 goals. He was Footscray's second most successful forward in 1995 with 39 goals and still had over 100 hit-outs for the year. His goal tally included three majors in the qualifying final against Geelong.{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/I/Ilija_Grgic.html| title=Ilija Grgic| publisher=AFL Tables}}

Footscray traded him to West Coast for Luke Trew at the end of the 1996 AFL season and he was the regular ruckman for the Eagles in 1997. However he suffered back problems in 1998 and played most of his football for Peel Thunder in the West Australian Football League (WAFL).{{cite web| url=http://www.wce.com.au/players/playerprofile/ilijagrgic/tabid/7302/playerid/15712/category/past/season/2009/selected/bio/default.aspx| title=Ilija Grgic Player Profile bio| publisher=West Coast Eagles Football Club| access-date=20 July 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831230108/http://www.wce.com.au/players/playerprofile/ilijagrgic/tabid/7302/playerid/15712/category/past/season/2009/selected/bio/default.aspx| archive-date=31 August 2010| url-status=dead}} During his time at West Coast he was involved in a drugs controversy when he tested positive for a banned substances but it turned out to be cough medicine.{{cite book|last=Holmesby|first=Russell|last2=Main|first2=Jim|title=The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers| publisher=BAS Publishing|year=2007|isbn=978-1-920910-78-5}}

After being let go by West Coast, Grgic was picked up by Essendon with the 56th pick of the 1998 AFL draft. He continued to struggle with injury and could manage just two AFL appearances but did play in the Reserves Premiership that season.{{cite web| url=http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/player-past.asp?id=1134| title=Essendon Football Club – Team Players – Ilija Grgic| publisher=Essendon F.C.| access-date=20 July 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226173212/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/player-past.asp?id=1134| archive-date=26 February 2011| url-status=dead}}

Since retiring from football, Grgic has had a successful professional career in the oil and gas industry, including serving as engineering manager at the Shell refinery in Geelong.[http://www.shell.com.au/home/content/aus/aboutshell/media_centre/news_and_media_releases/archive/2007/glg_mrelease_eng_mgr.html Shell appoints new engineering manager] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404041055/http://www.shell.com.au/home/content/aus/aboutshell/media_centre/news_and_media_releases/archive/2007/glg_mrelease_eng_mgr.html |date=4 April 2011 }}, 10 January 2007, Retrieved 14 April 2011.