Golden Grove signs Craig Smith as 2026 coach to replace Luke Barmby
The 2025 division one Adelaide Footy League runner-up has found a new coach as it aims to bounce back from this year’s grand final heartbreak, but his first job is to replace two departing superstars.
The 2025 division one AdFL runner-up has found a replacement for its departing coach as it prepares to launch a bounce-back season in 2026 following this year’s grand final heartbreak.
Craig Smith, Golden Grove’s forward coach this year, has signed as head coach after Luke Barmby stepped down at the end of the season.
A coach with SANFL League experience and a former coach with multiple Hahndorf premiership sides in the Hills Football League, Smith said he was excited to lead the Kookaburras to division one contention in 2026.
“As soon as Luke said he was going to step away I was pretty keen to take over, it made a lot of sense to me,” Smith said.
“The program is in a really strong place behind the work he’s done and I’m in a position in my life where I can commit to it because it is a lot of work.
“I love it here, it’s a great club and I’m looking forward to the season.”
The Kookaburras have already seen multiple departures and arrivals, with star defender Cam Shenton leaving to take on a coaching role with North Adelaide and dominant utility Josh Glenn joining his junior club in Elizabeth.
In response, the club has signed the likes of former North Adelaide forward Terrel Rigney, former Central District utility Lachlan Giles, as well as Gumeracha brothers Mitch and Daniel Trepka.
Smith was confident in the club’s current list.
“Some of that top end talent from last year has obviously left us now but we’re still confident we can compete.
“Our main focus has been getting good people to the footy club and if they’re good people who can contribute to the A Grade program, then that’s a bonus.
“It depends on if you can keep your best players on the park and we believe we can definitely be around the mark with our best 21 on the paddock.”
The side was not far from the mark last season, putting together an impressive run of wins in the second half of the season behind the play of Keith Sims OAM Medallist Jake Pitman to finish second on the ladder and make the grand final.
While the Kookaburras ultimately went down to flag favourite Port District, Smith believed the players had learnt a number of valuable lessons from the game.
“You definitely walk away from a grand final loss with a sour taste in your mouth but once you reflect you realise you did some good things and then some things you can learn from.
“What Port District was able to bring in terms of pressure and work rate, we fell short.
“They taught us a lesson but we’re going to learn from it and we know every year is different in division one.
“We’re ready to go again.”
