SAD NEWS: David “Grave Danger” Granger, a controversial AFL player, passes away at age 69

David Granger, a former Port Adelaide footballer, passed away following a protracted illness.

The 69-year-old, known by the nickname “Grave Danger,” passed away on Thursday, according to a statement issued shortly after noon on Friday by his former team.

A club representative said in the statement, “The Port Adelaide Football Club is saddened by the passing of two-time premiership player David Granger who passed away yesterday at the age of 69.”

Granger participated in 103 games for Port Adelaide, mostly as a key striker, between 1975 and 1982. He participated in three 1979 St Kilda games in between.

On behalf of the club, Port Adelaide CEO Matthew Richardson sent his sympathies to Mr. Granger’s daughter Carly and his entire family.

“It’s sad to hear of David’s passing. He had battled health issues in recent years,” he added.

David was a highly skilled player in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Port Adelaide was at the top of the game.

He was an agile, powerful, and 188-centimeter-tall modern-day type athlete. David was incredibly gifted and played a key role in the team’s historic 1977 Grand Final triumph.

Brian Cunningham, the captain of Granger in the 1981 Premiership, stated that “his football talent and enormous skills were often underplayed due to his notoriety.”

Even if Mr. Granger wasn’t always well-liked by the public, he said he will always remember him as a devoted team member.

He remarked, “I don’t think we ever saw the best of David’s raw talent consistently on the field and he was misunderstood by others outside the club.”

“He was incredibly talented and a major contributor to our premiership victories in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and I will always remember that.”