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. 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, C6 & C7 competitions. Its women's teams compete in the Adelaide Footy League Women's Division 2, & Division 2 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. 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. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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).
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. 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. 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. 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.
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. They were comfortably beaten by 49 points, 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. Following this feasibility study, a grant of $12 million 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.
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 fourth 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 Year Div Pos Pld W L DPtsA GradeB Grade1997 D7 2nd18134028 D7R - - - - -1998D66th1899018D6RD10N - - - -1999D63rd18117024D6RD10N - - - -2000D67th18710014 D6RD9N - - - -2001D64th18107123D6RD10N - - - -2002D64th18117024 D6RD6RD9N - - -2003 D6 1st18134028D6RD9N - - - -2004D58th18611012 D5RD9N - - - -2005D56th1889117D5RD9N - - - -2006 D510th1841408D5RD9N - - - -2007 D6 1st18162032 D5RC5 - - - -2008 D5 1st18162032 D5R C5 - - - -2009D46th18108020D4R C4C5 - - -2010 D4 2nd18135026 D4R C4C6 - - -2011 D310th1821515D3RC4C6 - - -2012D44th18126024 D4RD8D8R - - -2013D42nd18144028 D4RD8D8R - - -2014 D4 1st18171034 D4R D8D8R - - -2015D34th1697018D3RD8D8R - - -2016D37th18711014D3RC3C5 - - -2017D3 3rd18135026D3R C3C5 -D5 -2018 D29th1831506D2RD7D7R -D4D52019D35th18116123D3R C3 Club 18C4D3 D52020D3 1st871014D3RC3 C7C6D1D1R2021D32nd18153030 D3R C3C8C7D3D72022 D3 1st18180036 D3RC3C7C8D3D2R2023 D2 1st18162032 D2RC2C7 - D2 D62024D14th18108020D1RC1C5C7D1D1R2025D1 2nd18144028 D1RC1 C6C7D1D1R2026D13rd18135026D1RC1C7C8D2D2R *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. Denotes Premiership Denotes Promotion Denotes Runner Up Grand Finalist Denotes Relegation
Club Honours Total premierships: 45 (20 Senior / 25 Junior)
Men's Premierships No. Year Grade Opponent Score Venue12002B Grade (D6R)North Pines9.7 (61) def. 6.8 (44)Hectorville Oval22003A Grade (D6)Brahma Lodge16.7 (103) def. 9.9 (63)Blair Athol Reserve32006Under 17Hectorville15.8 (98) def. 12.8 (80)Blair Athol Reserve42007B Grade (D5R)Hope Valley10.1 (61) def. 9.4 (58)Salisbury Oval52008A Grade (D5)Greenacres10.10 (76) def. 10.12 (72)Salisbury Oval62008C Grade (C5)Modbury9.7 (61) def. 8.6 (54)Hope Valley Oval72010C Grade (C4)Adelaide University7.4 (46) def. 2.5 (17)Thebarton Oval82014B Grade (D4R)*Hope Valley15.12 (102) def. 6.4 (40)Adelaide Airport Stadium92014A Grade (D4)Salisbury West15.17 (107) def. 9.4 (58)Adelaide Airport Stadium102019Under 18 (red)Goodwood6.7 (43) def. 3.5 (23)Payneham Oval112020B Grade (D3R)Flinders Park9.11 (65) def. 9.9 (63)Norwood Oval122020A Grade (D3)Flinders Park15.7 (97) def. 10.7 (67)Norwood Oval132021C Grade (C3)Flinders Park10.9 (69) def. 4.6 (30)Campbelltown Memorial Oval142021B Grade (D3R)*Flinders Park7.9 (51) def. 5.5 (35)Campbelltown Memorial Oval152022B Grade (D3R)Edwardstown13.8 (86) def. 5.8 (38)Elizabeth Oval162022A Grade (D3)*Edwardstown9.8 (62) def. 1.5 (11)Elizabeth Oval172023B Grade (D2R)Payneham NU8.10 (58) def. 8.9 (57)Hisense Stadium182023A Grade (D2)Payneham NU10.13 (73) def. 2.5 (17)Hisense Stadium192025D Grade (C6)Adelaide University10.4 (64) def 6.12 (48)Campbelltown Memorial Oval
Women's Premierships No. Year Grade Opponent Score Venue12023B Grade (D6W)Athelstone4.7 (31) def. 4.4 (28)Blair Athol Oval * Denotes undefeated premiership Senior A Grade: 2003, 2008, 2014, 2020, 2022, 2023 B Grade: 2002, 2007, 2014, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 C Grade: 2008, 2010, 2021 D Grade: 2025 Under 18: 2019 (Div 1) Under 17: 2006 Women B Grade: 2023 Junior Boys Under 16: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2024 (Div 1) Under 15: 2009, 2021 (Div 4) Under 14: 2017, 2023, 2025 (Div 5) Under 13: 2005, 2018, 2019 (Div 1), 2019 (Div 3) Under 12: 2015, 2017, 2022 (Div 1) Under 11: 2009, 2011, 2016 Junior Girls Under 15: 2021 Under 14: 2026 (Div 2) Under 13: 2010 Under 12: 2018, 2019, 2026 (Div 1)
Golden Grove Juniors in the AFL Year DraftedYear RetiredNameClubDraft pickGames Played2006 2022Shane EdwardsRichmond Tigers263032009 2019Daniel MenzelGeelong Cats (2010 - 2018) Sydney Swans (2018 - 2019)17802012 2017Troy MenzelCarlton Blues (2012 - 2015) Adelaide Crows (2015 - 2017)114420122016Cameron ShentonSt. Kilda Saints30 (rookie)2420122013Justin HoskinJustin HoskinPort Adelaide Power20 (rookie) 02014 2022Trent DumontNorth Melbourne Kangaroos (2014 - 2021) Port Adelaide Power (2022)301212020 -Corey DurdinCarlton Blues (2020 - 2025) Port Adelaide Power (2026 - )37 642021 -Harvey HarrisonCollingwood Magpies52 162025 -Indy CottonAdelaide CrowsCat B2025 -Matthew LeRayHawthorn Hawks56
Golden Grove Juniors in the AFLW Year DraftedYear RetiredNameClubDraft pickGames Played2022 2024Jade HalfpennyPort Adelaide Power (2022 - 2024 )* 8Carlton Blues (2024) Joined as Inactive Replacement Signing2022 -Amelie BorgPort Adelaide Power (2022 - )61 452023 -Molly BrooksbyPort Adelaide Power (2022 - )* 262024 -Georgia McKeeAdelaide Crows (2024 - )440 * Denotes selected via the AFLW's Expansion Signing Period
Guernseys
Senior home guernseys
1997–1999: green, gold and blue tri-panel (seniors only) 2000–2016: stylised gold kookaburra on a green/blue base, blue collar and cuffs, gold numbers 2017-current: green base, gold chevron with blue upper, blue cuffs and collar, gold numbers
Senior clash guernseys
2004–2020: stylised blue kookaburra on a gold base 2021-current: gold base, blue and green chevrons, blue cuffs and collar, blue numbers
Junior guernseys
1996–2000: bottle green base, yellow and blue 'V's, blue cuffs and collar, gold numbers (juniors only) 2000-current: stylised gold kookaburra on a green/blue base, blue collar and cuffs, gold numbers
One-off guernseys
2011: Breast Cancer Awareness Guernsey – pink base and pink numbers 2015: 20th Anniversary Guernsey – throwback guernsey based on 1996 junior guernsey 2016: ANZAC Day Guernsey – camouflage guernsey based on a modern take on the 1996 junior guernsey 2021: 1997 Inaugural Guernsey Replica - green, gold and blue tri panel (designed by Nick Gaudio) 2023: Indigenous Guernsey - green base, yellow and blue boomerangs (designed by Shane Edwards) 2024: ANZAC Day Guernsey - based on the current guernsey, featuring a smaller chevron with a silhouette of a lone soldier in front of a rising sun. The upper back of the guernsey features the names of both Harper brothers and their unit symbol - 52nd Battalion (designed by Nick Gaudio) 2025: 30th Anniversary Guernsey - 1:1 replica of the 1996 Junior guernsey, including stitched sponsors and collar
Grounds 1996–2015: Greenwith Oval, The Golden Way, Greenwith (used as an overflow oval for junior games from 2005 to 2015) 2001–2003: Hargreaves Reserve (used as an overflow oval for junior games) 2005–current: Harpers Field, One Tree Hill Road, Golden Grove
References
External links