[1] His father, George, also played VFL football, for St Kilda.
"Gary “Bronco” Grainger was a ruckman and forward who came from Stawell where he had played from late 1966 to 1969.
Grainger managed only 11 games in 1971 but finished with the best team man award that year.
He found it hard to get regular first team selection and after five games in 1972 he left Essendon.
Grainger's father, George, played two games for St Kilda in 1944.