User:Tarheelblue42/Greenacres Dragons (Women's Football)

The Greenacres Dragons are a Women’s Football team located nearby Yatala Prison, in Northfield, Adelaide, and are a member of the South Australian Women’s Football League. They have won 2 Premierships, having appeared in a total of 6. The era of Women's Football at Greenacres commenced in May of 2005, when ties with North Adelaide Football Club were severed. Greenacres Football Club embraced and welcomed the team, and together with their support have since grown from strength to strength particularly in recent years.

Club History
20 years ago the South Australian Women’s Football League was born, thus enabling for the first time an opportunity for women to play Australian Rules Football competitively. And so it goes with the leagues inception in 1991, so too was the Hectorville Football Club – the club Greenacres Women would ultimately arise from. Hectorville went on to play in 8 Grand Finals from 1991 to 1999 and enjoyed lengthy dominance and success, with premierships in 1994 and 1995. In 2000, Hectorville Football Club moved to Prospect Oval taking on the North Adelaide name, colours and uniform. The Roosters claimed both the 2000 and 2001 Premierships, and contested a Grand Final in 2003 – continuing a winning tradition.

However, as successful the early years between Hectorville and North Adelaide would be remembered for, there would be a dry patch in 2005 as the former club was once again forced to realign – this time with Greenacres. The period between 2005 – 2007 was a particularly trying time for the club, battling week in to week out for survival. Although these years were steeped heavily in hardship and adversities, it would be these very tribulations that would define the Dragon character as fierce, determined – “battlers” and played true in every sense of the clubs motto “Nuncum Victus” – Never Beaten. Always remembering its past, Greenacres Women's Football Club would not be the club it is today, without the combined founding and pioneering strength of the Hectorville and North Adelaide Football Clubs. To this day Greenacres still has a close strong affiliation with North Adelaide, and original players from Hectorville.

In 2005, Deb O’Reilly was appointed the inaugural Dragon’s women’s coach, and along with a handful of foundation players, strived valiantly to keep the club afloat. Special mention must also be made to men’s club legends, Lloydie & Fester and President of the time Chris Nicholas – whose keen participation on the training track and off field will always be fondly remembered. As a result, Greenacres early years between 2005 and 2006 were largely formative and developmental seasons, with a heavy focus on recruiting and club promotion. During 2005 the Dragons would fail to record a single victory, and future hard work and commitment were required for the clubs very survival.

Nick Cornell “Space” - a long times Men’s player for the Dragons, took the head role from 2006. Under his guidance, the club finally recorded their first win, a victory over Port Adelaide at home mid season.

The 2007 season started off rocky with a mid year swap of coaches, this time with the help of State coach Steve Baxter, joining the Dragons as head coach along with John Leicester. This combined duo helped ignite the awakening of the Dragon. Managing to climb the ladder swiftly and for the first time, securing a place in the SAWFL Grand Final. With the premiership within grasp, the Dragons fell short by a 3 point deficit, however making a grand final alone, capped the Dragons rapid rise – and created a fear and rumble heard within the league.

2008 saw the Greenacres Football Club make the Grand Final for the 2nd year in a row. Whilst still considered under-dogs, the pressure appeared all too much and reflected with another loss to the Eagles – who were fast becoming their arch nemesis. Whilst still unable to steal premiership glory, the year was as a whole was solid and saw for the first time a Greenacres player take out honours as the Leagues Best & Fairest.

By 2009 the club was moving places and was a year that saw the unimaginable happen. In fitting form against the undefeated Eagles, the Dragons captured their first premiership. It was a proud moment in the clubs history, a premiership that will forever be remembered and for future years chased.

2010 for the first time in some years the Dragons missed an opportunity to contest the grand final.

2011 Dragons retuned to Grand final play, however a loss 2012 2013 The Dragons captured their second premiership under the helm of Captain Michel Reid who was also named All-Australian and the leagues best and fairest that year.

Logos & Uniform
Clubs logo has evolved over time.

Premierships
Greenacres have claimed 2 Premierships within the South Australia Women's Football League. 2009 saw the team upset the Eagles who had been embarking on an undefeated season. The Dragons 2013 saw the side top off their own un-defeated home and away season with a victory.

All Australians
Greenacres Dragons have had representation from the following players selected for the All Australian Women's AFL Team

State Representatives
The following Dragon players have represented South Australia at the National Carnival.

100 Game Club
Achieving 100 games in Australian Women's Football is a remarkable achievement - let alone all for the one club. Greenacres acknowledges its "100 game" players by presenting them with a certificate of acknowledgement along with $100.

Traditions
The Dragon Lair The Dragon Lair is a weekly newsletter produced during the season. Features game reviews, up coming games, news, player milestones, acknowledgments, player profiles, comical lookalikes and separated at births. It's first production was for the 2013 season, which the club was undefeated.

Post-Game BBQ The Dragons are known for inviting opposition teams back to club rooms/canteen for

Mad Monday Mad Monday occurs on the first Monday following final game of the year.

Tee-Off Tuesday Tee-Off Tuesday occurs on the first Tuesday post their last game of season. The players gather for a round of golf at Valley View Golf Course.

End of Season Trip The Dragons part take in a weekend long holiday, to celebrate end of season.

Milestone Banners Players will make banners to celebrate milestone games. 50, 100, 200 game banners have been made.

Month End Supper Night Final training session of each Month is celebrated with a supper night.

Indian File An unliked training drill.