Ray Groom | Demonwiki (original) (raw)

DOB: 3 September <1944>

Debut: Round 1, 1963 against St. Kilda at Junction Oval
Last Game: Round 20, 1968 against at

From: Cooee

Number: 15 (1963-1964), 31 (1965-1968)

Honours
Best and Fairest - <1968>

Games: 92
Goals: 36
Career Statistics

Born in Victoria, and the son of a former Fitzroy player, Groom went to Tasmania as a child. He left again at 12 and played in the Melbourne and sides before returning home for two seasons. During his second stint in Tasmania he played for his state against both the and VFL, and was a hotly sought after recruit. He had also been a talented sprinter and long jumper, representing Tasmania in the <1962> National Athletics Championships.

When he returned to Melbourne in <1963> he impressed in practice matches and was eventually cleared by Cooee to begin a VFL career. Promoted to the seniors immediately, Groom made a name as a pacy centre-half forward with good marking ability.

After a strong debut season he suffered a recurring hamstring injury in <1964> which restricted him to 12 games at centre half-forward, and kept him out of the 1964 Grand Final side.

Groom inherited the 31 jumper vacated by Ron Barassi at the end of <1964>, but continued to battle the hamstring injury through <1965> and was restricted to eight games. He was finally cured by a visit to a physiotherapist, who immediately cured his hamstring complaint, allowing him to exploit his pace for the first time in two years.

At the end of <1968>, having just won the Best and Fairest, Groom announced that he wanted to return to Tasmania to take up a job with his father in law's legal firm. His old club were forced to try and win a clearance for him to move back, and Groom remained on the Melbourne senior list but did not play a game that year. After six months he won his freedom and returned to Cooee, playing for the Tasmania in that year's Interstate Carnival.

In <1975> Groom was elected as Liberal MP for the Tasmanian federal electorate of Braddon at his second attempt. He held the seat until <1984>, serving as Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development from <1977> to <1978> and Minister for Housing and Construction until November <1980>. He resigned from the Federal Parliament before the <1984> election then re-entered politics as a member of the Tasmanian assembly in <1986>. He served as Minister for Forests, Mines and Sea Fisheries and from November <1988> to June <1989> was Deputy Premier.

The Liberals lost government, and in <1991> he successfully challenged for the leadership of the party. At the 1992 election he became premier, serving one term after his party failed to win enough seats to govern in their own right at the <1996> election. Groom remained in parliament until <2001> and was appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia in <2010>. He was also inducted to the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame.

Lists
Famous for other things
Interstate recruits

Media
Age - 10/04/1963, 03/07/1964, 22/04/1969
Mercury - 17/05/2008

Links
Boyles Football Photos
Demonwiki image gallery
Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame
Wikipedia profile