Brad Johnson will break Grant's club games record when he runs out on Saturday for the 342nd time in red, white and blue, when the Dogs take on Fremantle at Docklands.
Grant, 37, believes the milestone will prompt the current players to recognise the chance to break the league's longest-standing premiership drought. The Dogs won their only VFL flag in 1954, and currently sit third on the ladder, ahead of three teams on percentage.
"Right now, I feel we've never been closer to winning our next one," Grant told westernbulldogs.com.au.
"I watch every game as if I'm playing. I just feel like that.
"I think this will be another occasion this weekend where we look at a person like Johnno, and the club's history, and you get to reflect on that.
"I'm just really hopeful in the next year or two we get to add to that."
Ahead of Saturday's match, Grant will take part in a re-enactment of a gesture famous in club history: receiving a handpass from previous games record holder Doug Hawkins (who once received a similar pass from the legendary Ted Whitten) before passing the ball on to Johnson.
"Hawk is going to attempt a flick pass, which could be interesting. It could go anywhere," Grant said.
"It will be very embarrassing if I drop it."
The former key position player said he was happy to relinquish the record, and proud to have it broken by a man he considers one of his best friends.
"It's one of those records that is a test of longevity and commitment," Grant said.
"When Hawk broke the record and I broke the record, those moments in time were a really special occasion for the player and club, where you look at the team's history.
"We've been very lucky that we've had players like Doug Hawkins and EJ Whitten and Scott West and Rohan Smith, and obviously Johnno, who have held the club together, because there have been a lot of ordinary times throughout the club's history.
"With only one premiership, it takes some pretty special people to keep the fibre of the place together, off the field as well."
Grant said Johnson's reputation as one of the league's nice guys was justified.
"Even if you haven't had much to do with Brad, as a supporter, you still see him as someone who has never let you down," he said.
"I think everyone sees a part of Brad as something they'd like to be like, if it's a young kid wanting to be a footballer or a parent who wants their kid to grow up and be like Brad.
"That's why he such a revered character within the club, and so respected outside it."
