Fans heading to Adelaide’s match against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday night are being urged to arrive early for a special celebration of the game’s Indigenous players, including a first for a Crows match at Adelaide Oval.
As part of the pre-game entertainment for the 2016 Toyota AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round clash, the Adelaide Oval stadium lights will be turned off following the player warm-up at approximately 6.30pm.
It will be the first time the lights have been switched off before the first bounce at Adelaide Oval and the darkness will allow for a ceremony to recognise the incredible contribution of Indigenous people to the game.
As part of the celebrations, images of Indigenous players will be spectacularly projected onto the roof of the stadium’s Eastern Stand.
There will be a Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony, Indigenous dancers and flags, and the playing of the Didgeridoo.
Singers Shane Howard, Amy Dawson and Leah Flannagan will perform two songs with the support of 60 members of the Australian Girls Choir.
Indigenous music will greet fans via Crow Radio as they make their way into Adelaide Oval and free tri-colour glow in the dark wristbands will be handed out to fans.
The stadium lights will remain off for the duration of the pre-match entertainment, with fans encouraged to be seated by 6.30pm to enjoy it ahead of the 7.10pm clash.
Saturday night’s Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round match will be the pinnacle of a week of Indigenous cultural celebration at the Adelaide Football Club.
Crows players, coaching staff and Club administrators joined together on Wednesday for a smoking ceremony, Welcome to Country and Indigenous performances.
The Crows will wear a guernsey specially designed by Eddie Betts’ Auntie, Aboriginal artist Susie Betts, for the match which reflects the history and connection between Indigenous culture, the Club and its supporters. Read the unique story behind Adelaide’s 2016 Indigenous guernsey.
Saturday will also provide fans with the chance to see some of the candidates for a potential Crows team in the new AFL national women’s competition with a Northern Territory team taking on South Australian in the curtain raiser from 4.40pm. Read more about the exhibition match
