Chris Groom
Encyclopedia
Chris Groom is a former Australian rules football
er who played in the Australian Football League
(AFL) for the Adelaide, Fremantle
and North Melbourne Football Club
s.
that included playing in the 1990 under 17 SANFL
premiership and the 1991 Reserves Premiership(aged 17), Chris was selected by the Adelaide Crows during the moritorium where the club had the first 8 picks of South Australian players before other clubs could select (1992
). At 18 years of age Groom made his debut for South Adelaide's Seniors in round 1, 1992 playing against Glenelg and kicked 5 goals. He finished the year with 42 goals from 25 games in a year where South Adelaide made the finals.
In 1992
Chris made his AFL debut in round 1 against Richmond, kicking 2 goals. After being plagued by illness and injury he was traded to Fremantle Dockers for the 1995 season and played in Fremantle's first ever game, kicking 3 goals. In exchange for Groom, Fremantle traded the rights to Andrew McLeod
to the Adelaide Crows, a move for which Fremantle have been roundly criticised, as a result of McLeod's glittering career when compared to Groom's.
Despite kicking 18 goals in 7 games for Fremantle, Groom was surprisingly dropped 4 times. When not selected he played for West Perth, kicking 70 goals in 14 games including 5 goals in their Premiership win over Subiaco.
After beings delisted by Fremantle at the end of the 1995 season, he was selected by North Melbourne
in the 1995 AFL Draft
. However a week before the 1996 AFL season
started he sustained a knee injury requiring a total knee reconstruction. Unfortunately 5 months later the knee buckled again and a second reconstruction was required;this in a season which saw North Melbourne take out the Reserves and Senior Premiership.
After missing season 1997 he managed to play Senior football with North Melbourne and was a member of the 1998 Pre-season Cup
premiership winning team. He retired from AFL football at the end of 1998 due to injuries but went on to play with great success firstly for West Preston in the Diamond Valley League, and then Melbourne University Blacks in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.
In 2011, he came out of retirement to play 3 games for the Chicago United Football Club in the Mid American Australian League 2011 Madison Invitational Tournament. He played in games against the Milwaukee Bombers, Minnesota Freeze, and Cincinnati Dockers, finishing with 10 goals and at least 10 behinds, helping Chicago United to a 2-1 record and 3rd place finish.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL) for the Adelaide, Fremantle
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
and North Melbourne Football Club
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
s.
Career
After a very successful junior career for South AdelaideSouth Adelaide Football Club
South Adelaide Football Club competes in the South Australian National Football League . Known as the Panthers, their home ground is Hickinbotham Oval , located in Noarlunga Downs in the southern suburbs of Adelaide....
that included playing in the 1990 under 17 SANFL
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
premiership and the 1991 Reserves Premiership(aged 17), Chris was selected by the Adelaide Crows during the moritorium where the club had the first 8 picks of South Australian players before other clubs could select (1992
1992 AFL Draft
The 1992 AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League...
). At 18 years of age Groom made his debut for South Adelaide's Seniors in round 1, 1992 playing against Glenelg and kicked 5 goals. He finished the year with 42 goals from 25 games in a year where South Adelaide made the finals.
In 1992
1993 AFL season
-Ladder:All teams played 20 games during the home and away season, for a total of 165. Each team also had two byes. An additional 7 games were played during the finals series.-Awards:*The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Gavin Wanganeen of ....
Chris made his AFL debut in round 1 against Richmond, kicking 2 goals. After being plagued by illness and injury he was traded to Fremantle Dockers for the 1995 season and played in Fremantle's first ever game, kicking 3 goals. In exchange for Groom, Fremantle traded the rights to Andrew McLeod
Andrew McLeod
Andrew Luke McLeod is a former Australian rules footballer for the Adelaide Football Club. He is the games record holder for Adelaide, having played 340 games....
to the Adelaide Crows, a move for which Fremantle have been roundly criticised, as a result of McLeod's glittering career when compared to Groom's.
Despite kicking 18 goals in 7 games for Fremantle, Groom was surprisingly dropped 4 times. When not selected he played for West Perth, kicking 70 goals in 14 games including 5 goals in their Premiership win over Subiaco.
After beings delisted by Fremantle at the end of the 1995 season, he was selected by North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
in the 1995 AFL Draft
1995 AFL Draft
The 1995 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1995 Australian Football League season.The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football clubs that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.Clubs receive picks based...
. However a week before the 1996 AFL season
1996 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1996.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Lighting Premiership:...
started he sustained a knee injury requiring a total knee reconstruction. Unfortunately 5 months later the knee buckled again and a second reconstruction was required;this in a season which saw North Melbourne take out the Reserves and Senior Premiership.
After missing season 1997 he managed to play Senior football with North Melbourne and was a member of the 1998 Pre-season Cup
1998 Ansett Australia Cup
- Scorecard :- Final Placings :1. North Melbourne 2. St. Kilda 3. Melbourne 4. Brisbane 5. Western Bulldogs 6. Essendon 7. Adelaide 8. West Coast 9. Richmond 10. Sydney 11. Port Adelaide 12. Fremantle 13. Carlton 14. Geelong 15. Hawthorn...
premiership winning team. He retired from AFL football at the end of 1998 due to injuries but went on to play with great success firstly for West Preston in the Diamond Valley League, and then Melbourne University Blacks in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.
In 2011, he came out of retirement to play 3 games for the Chicago United Football Club in the Mid American Australian League 2011 Madison Invitational Tournament. He played in games against the Milwaukee Bombers, Minnesota Freeze, and Cincinnati Dockers, finishing with 10 goals and at least 10 behinds, helping Chicago United to a 2-1 record and 3rd place finish.