Despite being formed as recently as 1979, the Goannas have already created an enviably distinctive tradition which affords a pleasing contrast to the prevailing modern tendency to 'ape all things AFL'. The club's imaginative logo is a case in point. Although there appears to be some uncertainty as to precisely why the goanna was chosen there is no doubt that it makes a refreshing change from all the 'Crows', 'Kangaroos', 'Demons' and the like which arguably do little or nothing to bolster the individuality and local character of the Sydney football scene.
Known at first simply as Parramatta, the side contested its first senior SFA grand final in 1983, only to cop an 11 goal hiding at the hands of St Ives. In a quest perhaps to obliterate the memory of this ignominy, the club promptly changed its name to Holroyd-Parramatta, and it was under this name the following year that it accumulated a then record SFA score of 58.54 (402) to Camden's 0.0 (0).
The following year saw the Goannas gain admission to Sydney football's primary competition, the SFL, where, after a lacklustre couple of seasons, they began to emerge as a genuine force towards the end of the decade. With former Hawthorn player Len Walsh at the helm the side qualified for the 1990 finals in 2nd spot behind North Shore before winning the 2nd semi final by 31 points. In the grand final a fortnight later it again met North Shore and, in a spiteful, tempestuous match at the Erskenville Oval, won its first and, to date, only Sydney top grade pennant by 7 points. Final scores were Holroyd-Parramatta 9.15 (69) to North Shore 9.8 (62), with Brian 'Alf' Hawke courageously seeing out the entire game for the victors despite sustaining a broken jaw early on.
The Goannas retained the nucleus of their premiership side in 1991, but on this occasion fell at the final hurdle. The premiership decider featured the same teams as in 1990 and was, if anything, an even more bruising and unpleasant encounter, with the Goannas, despite having only 15 fit men, doing well to get within a goal during the last term before going down by 22 points.
In 1995, the club decided that it was being over-stretched in the SFL, and took the opportunity of merging with struggling SFA club, Blacktown. The newly merged club would compete in the SFA, the highlight of this period being a 14.10 (94) to 11.11 (77) grand final defeat of Wollongong in 2001.
The Goannas are currently fielding 3 teams in the 2nd, 3rd & 4th division of the newly restructured Sydney AFL competition with an under 18s team also competing in the Challenge Cup.
Arguably the Goannas' most famous player was Mark Taylor, who won the club's best and fairest award in 1983, and later went on to captain the Australian Test cricket team. Taylor has maintained his involvement with the Goannas by acting as the club's patron.
Last Modified on 28/04/2009 20:09