Golden Grove Football Club Explained

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Clubname:Golden Grove Kookaburras
Fullname:Golden Grove Football Club
Founded:[1]
Colours: Green, Gold, Blue
League:Adelaide Footy League (Division 1, 1R, C1, C5, C7) & SAWFL (Division 1 & 1R)
Coach:Luke Barmby
Captain:Cameron Shenton
Premierships:6
D2 (2023)
D3 (2020, 2022)
D4 (2014)
D5 (2008)
D6 (2003)
Ground:Harper's Field, Golden Grove, South Australia (2005 -)
President:Kate Grandey
Nicknames:Kookaburras
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Division:D3
Clubsong:"We're The Mighty Kookaburras"
Formerground:Greenwith Oval, Greenwith (1995–2004)

The Golden Grove Football Club, more commonly known as the Kookaburras, is an Australian Rules Football Club based in the north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide that was formed in 1995.[2] The club is based at Harper's Field, located on One Tree Hill Road in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. Golden Grove's five men's senior teams compete in the Adelaide Footy League Division 1, Division 1 Reserves, Division C1, C7 & C8 competitions.[3] Its women's teams compete in the Adelaide Footy League Women's Division 1, & Division 1 Reserves competitions, whilst its junior teams compete in the SANFL Juniors competition.

History

The football club lobbied for a long time to find a permanent home, with the club outgrowing its temporary home at the Greenwith Oval & Greenwith Community Centre within the first two years, after rapidly growing junior numbers.[4] Despite this, the council, unfortunately, had nowhere else for the club to move to, and the club had to wait until 2001 before a decision to move from its temporary clubrooms could be made.[5] Talks were held in the 2002 pre-season for the club to move its base to Golden Grove High School. However, negotiations with the school were stopped as neither party could agree on the building of a licensed clubhouse.[6] Club officials were "disgraced" when offered a stop-gap solution by the council at the end of the 2002 season, offering to build new toilets and changerooms, but no clubrooms.[7]

A breakthrough for a permanent home occurred in 2004 when the club was given the green light for a future permanent home at Harpers Field.[8] However, there was still the major hurdle of funding for clubrooms. Originally approved for a $2.1m council grant to build clubrooms, this was later declined due to a change in federal government and the council not willing to pick up the extra 50% funding.[9] A match in 2004 was one for the history books, when the Golden Grove A Grade defeated Greenacres by an enormous 297 points. This still remains the club's biggest win, highest score and the Adelaide Footy League's 27th highest ever score in a single match - 51.21 (327) d. 5.3 (33).[10]

Late 2008 saw the final documents signed to secure a clubhouse and by the start of the 2010 season, the club was ready to operate from its new home.[11] The club made agreements with Tea Tree Gully Council to assist with the development of the Harpers Field site and this led to the work starting on the second oval. The oval was finished and ready to use at the start of the 2013 season. This gave the club two ovals and marked the end of the use of Greenwith Oval.[12] Since 2013, the club has developed the site to include goal netting, an electronic scoreboard, a canteen/kitchen extension and new lighting. The new floodlights were officially switched on at the trial game against Modbury on Saturday 21 March 2015.[13] Early in 2015 the committee signed a ten-year lease of the Harpers Field site with Tea Tree Gully which gives the club primary use of all the facilities.

More recently the club was awarded a share of a national grant to upgrade women's change rooms at sporting venues around Australia. The upgraded changerooms were completed for the beginning of the 2017 season.[14]

During the 2017 season, the 'Kookaburras' made their way through to the Division 3 Grand Final facing the Brighton Bombers who were competing in their first Adelaide Footy League season since moving from the Southern Football League, returning to the league they left 20 years ago.[15] They were comfortably beaten by 49 points,[16] however ensured their promotion into Division 2 for the 2018 season, being the highest division the club had ever competed in since its inception.

At an October 2019 Tea Tree Gully Council meeting, the Golden Grove Football Club had the motion passed for a feasibility study regarding expansion and a new clubhouse to be undertaken at Harpers Field.[17] Following this feasibility study, a grant of $12 million dollars was approved in April 2021 for a significant upgrade to the Harpers Field clubrooms and facilities. Early on-site works began in late 2022, with main building works commencing in February 2023. The project was completed and handed over in June 2024 and features four inclusive changerooms, bar, function area, grandstand with safe standing areas and viewing platform.[18]

The 2023 season was the clubs most successful season on record, as the Kookaburras gained promotion into Division 1 for the first time in their 28 year history, with club record 95pt win over PHOS Camden in the 2023 Preliminary Final. They continued their success with their biggest Grand Final win in Golden Grove's short history two weeks later, a 56pt win over Payneham Norwood Union, the first time back-to-back A Grade premierships had been won (2022, 2023). Adding to the success, the season also featured the B Grade's continued dominance, winning their fouth premiership in a row (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) with a record of 67-3 over the 4 years and the club's first ever Women's Premiership (Division 6).

Senior Performance

A GradeB GradeC GradeD GradeE GradeWomen
YearDivPosPldWLDPtsA GradeB Grade
1997D72nd18134028D7R-----
1998D66th1899018D6RD10N----
1999D63rd18117024D6RD10N----
2000D67th18710014D6RD9N----
2001D64th18107123D6RD10N----
2002D64th18117024D6RD6RD9N---
2003D61st18134028D6RD9N----
2004D58th18611012D5RD9N----
2005D56th1889117D5RD9N----
2006D510th1841408D5RD9N----
2007D61st18162032D5RC5----
2008D51st18162032D5RC5----
2009D46th18108020D4RC4C5---
2010D42nd18135026D4RC4C6---
2011D310th1821515D3RC4C6---
2012D44th18126024D4RD8D8R---
2013D42nd18144028D4RD8D8R---
2014D41st18171034D4RD8D8R---
2015D34th1697018D3RD8D8R---
2016D37th18711014D3RC3C5---
2017D33rd18135026D3RC3C5-D5-
2018D29th1831506D2RD7D7R-D4D5
2019D35th18116123D3RC3Club 18C4D3D5
2020D31st871014D3RC3C7C6D1D1R
2021D32nd18153030D3RC3C8C7D3D7
2022D31st18180036D3RC3C7C8D3D2R
2023D21st18162032D2RC2C7-D2D6
2024D1D1RC1C5C7D1D1R
*2020 Season was half the length, cut short due to COVID-19. The Adelaide Footy League informed all clubs that there would also be no promotion or relegation for the 2020 season.[19]
bgcolor=gold Denotes Premiership
Denotes Promotion (Runner Up Grand Finalist)
Denotes Relegation

Club Honours

Total premierships: 40 (19 Senior[20] / 21 Junior)

Men's Premierships

No.YearGradeOpponentScoreVenue
12002B Grade (D6R)North Pines9.7 (61) def. 6.8 (44)[21] Hectorville Oval
22003A Grade (D6)Brahma Lodge16.7 (103) def. 9.9 (63)Blair Athol Reserve
32006Under 17Hectorville15.8 (98) def. 12.8 (80)Blair Athol Reserve
42007B Grade (D5R)Hope Valley10.1 (61) def. 9.4 (58)[22] Salisbury Oval
52008A Grade (D5)Greenacres10.10 (76) def. 10.12 (72)Salisbury Oval
62008C Grade (C5)Modbury9.7 (61) def. 8.6 (54)Hope Valley Oval
72010C Grade (C4)Adelaide University7.4 (46) def. 2.5 (17)Thebarton Oval
82014B Grade (D4R)*Hope Valley15.12 (102) def. 6.4 (40)[23] Adelaide Airport Stadium
92014A Grade (D4)Salisbury West15.17 (107) def. 9.4 (58)Adelaide Airport Stadium
102019Under 18 (red)Goodwood6.7 (43) def. 3.5 (23)[24] Payneham Oval
112020B Grade (D3R)Flinders Park9.11 (65) def. 9.9 (63)Norwood Oval
122020A Grade (D3)Flinders Park15.7 (97) def. 10.7 (67)Norwood Oval
132021C Grade (C3)Flinders Park10.9 (69) def. 4.6 (30)Campbelltown Memorial Oval
142021B Grade (D3R)*Flinders Park7.9 (51) def. 5.5 (35)Campbelltown Memorial Oval
152022B Grade (D3R)Edwardstown13.8 (86) def. 5.8 (38)Elizabeth Oval
162022A Grade (D3)*Edwardstown9.8 (62) def. 1.5 (11)Elizabeth Oval
172023B Grade (D2R)Payneham NU8.10 (58) def. 8.9 (57)Hisense Stadium
182023A Grade (D2)Payneham NU10.13 (73) def. 2.5 (17)Hisense Stadium

Women's Premierships

Golden Grove Juniors in the AFL

YearDraftedYearRetiredNameClubDraft pickGamesPlayed
20062022Shane EdwardsRichmond Tigers26303
20092019Daniel MenzelGeelong Cats (2010 - 2018)Sydney Swans (2018 - 2019)1780
20122017Troy MenzelCarlton Blues (2012 - 2015)Adelaide Crows (2015 - 2017)1144
20122016Cameron ShentonSt. Kilda Saints30 (rookie)24
20122013Justin Hoskin[26] Port Adelaide Power20 (rookie)-
2014-Trent DumontNorth Melbourne Kangaroos (2014 - 2021)Port Adelaide Power (2021 -)30121
2020-Corey DurdinCarlton Blues3734
2021-Harvey HarrisonCollingwood Magpies524

Golden Grove Juniors in the AFLW

YearDraftedYearRetiredNameClubDraft pickGamesPlayed
2022-Jade HalfpennyPort Adelaide Power (2022 - 2024)6
Carlton Blues (2024 -)
2022-Amelie BorgPort Adelaide Power (2022 -)6120
2023-Molly BrooksbyPort Adelaide Power (2022 -)-

Guernseys

Senior home guernseys

Senior clash guernseys

Junior guernseys

One-off guernseys

Grounds

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History. Golden Grove Football Club.
  2. Book: Bloch, Fred. A History of the South Australian Amateur Football League 1911-1994. 1995. 127.
  3. Web site: Division Two Through To Seven Clubs Ready For Round 1 of Adelaide Footy League Season. Turner. Matt. 5 April 2018. Eastern Courier Messenger.
  4. News: Baseball, soccer and Aussie Rules are... Sports running out of room. Mellor. Leonie. 22 July 1997. The Messenger – Leader.
  5. News: Footballers v. residents mismatch to go on. Hullick. Jenny. 18 February 1998. The Messenger – Leader.
  6. News: Uncertainty Over Footy Club's Future. Castello. Renato. 30 October 2001. The Messenger.
  7. News: Move to Remedy Oval 'Disgrace'. Stevens. Paul. 16 May 2002. The Messenger.
  8. News: Harping on about Opening. Quast. James. 23 November 2004. The Messenger – The Leader.
  9. News: And Now The End Aint Near. Homfray. Reece. 29 May 2007. The Messenger.
  10. Web site: SAAFL Highest Scores (1911 - 2015). Adelaide Footy League.
  11. News: Kooka's New Nest. Belperio. Francesca. 23 March 2010. The Messenger.
  12. News: House of Representatives Petition – GGFC Funding. July 2011.
  13. News: $150,000 backing for night footy. Abbracciavento. Daniela. 11 February 2014. Leader Messenger. 2017-03-07.
  14. News: Golden Grove Football Club to receive new or upgraded female change rooms. Bignell MP. Hon Leon. 19 February 2017. Ministry for Recreation and Sport.
  15. News: Brighton Bombers to face off in amateur league grand final one year after leaving Southern Football League. Keam. Patrick. 8 September 2017. CoastCity Weekly Messenger.
  16. Web site: Division 3 2017 Grand Final. 9 September 2017. SportingPulse.
  17. Web site: MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF TEA TREE GULLY . 22 October 2019 . City of Tea Tree Gully.
  18. Web site: Cameron. Ben. 15 April 2021. Golden Grove Football Club and cricket club set to benefit from $12m upgrade of Harpers Field. 2021-09-08. en-AU.
  19. Web site: Adelaide Footy League. 2020-09-16. www.facebook.com. en.
  20. Web site: Golden Grove. Adelaide Football League. 2017-03-07.
  21. Web site: SAAFL History – 2002. Adelaide Football League. 2017-03-08.
  22. Web site: SAAFL History – 2007. Adelaide Football League. 2017-03-08.
  23. Web site: SAAFL History – 2014. Adelaide Football League. 2017-03-10.
  24. Web site: Adelaide Footy League 2019 Grand Final.
  25. Web site: Division 6 Women - 2023 Grand Final Results .
  26. https://www.footywire.com/afl/club/player-biography/3891.html Justin Hoskin
  27. Web site: Golden Grove FC provide Xmas donation. Returned & Services League of Australia. 2017-03-07.