Australian Football

After displaying considerable potential during his junior career with South Adelaide Chris Groom arguably failed to fulfil it as a senior player thanks to persistent fitness concerns. He commenced in the SANFL with South in 1992, by which time he had already been drafted by Adelaide. He made his AFL debut with the Crows in 1993 but only managed a dozen appearances for them in two seasons, thanks mainly to the frequency with which injuries and illnesses impeded his progress.

Ahead of the 1995 season Groom was traded to AFL debutants Fremantle only to suffer a similarly frustrating time, playing just seven games for the year. He did, however, do well whilst playing in the WAFL with West Perth. All told he played 15 games and kicked a club list-topping 70 goals for the Falcons, including a five goal haul in their grand final win over Subiaco.

Groom’s last port of call was North Melbourne where injury worries resurfaced. Just before the start of the 1996 season he sustained a knee injury which necessitated a full reconstruction. Five months later, the same knee ‘went’ again and he ended up missing two full seasons of football. He finally got to play for North in 1998, but only managed five games for the year before opting to call it a day.

Author - John Devaney