Australian Football

After playing in the NWFU with Cooee (including their inaugural premiership win in 1961) Ray Groom returned to the Melbourne Football Club for whom he had played as a junior. He debuted with the Demons seniors in 1963 and made a highly favourable impression with his strong overhead marking and formidable pace. In 1964, however,he sustained a hamstring injury as a result of which he did not achieve selection in Melbourne's grand final-winning team. In 1965 he was handed the number 31 guernsey vacated by departing hero Ron Barassi and whether by coincidence or not his form improved. He ultimately played 92 VFL games and kicked 36 goals for the Demons mainly as either a centre half forward or follower. In 1968 he helped Victoria to a win over Western Australia. After claiming Melbourne's best and fairest award the same year he returned home to Cooee where his fine form continued and he achieved selection in Tasmania's team for the 1969 Adelaide carnival. He is a member of the prestigious AFL Tasmania Hall of Fame.

Away from football Ray Groom enjoyed an illustrious career as a politician at both state and national level. 

Author - John Devaney