March 21, 1991: Adelaide made a number of team changes when it named its squad for the historic first game against Hawthorn at Football Park.

Allan Bartlett, Matthew Kelly, Clayton Lamb, Andrew Payze, Michael Murphy, David Pittman and Stephen Rowe were left out from the team from the Foster’s Cup semi-final and replaced by Eddie Hocking, Tom Warhurst, Romano Negri, Nigel Smart and Darren Smith.

Coach Graham Cornes told The Advertiser that selection for a big game - and telling players they ere not playing - was one of a coach’s worst jobs. “It’s difficult for them, they have the hardest job. They have to go back to their clubs with a brave face, perform and still be associated with the Adelaide Football Club.”

The game was declared a sell-out.

The Adelaide team named on the Wednesday night was:
F: Hocking, Hodges, Klug. HF: McDermott, Smith, Fielke. C: Marshall, A. Jarman, Tregenza. HB: Thompson, Maynard, Smart. B: Lee, Warhurst, McIntyre. R: Negri, McGuinness, D. Hart. Inter: Lindner, Lindsay. Emergencies: Jameson, Mickan, Rowe.

This year the Adelaide Football Club celebrates the 20th anniversary of its first AFL game for premiership points when it plays Hawthorn in the opening round - two decades after the Crows thumped Hawthorn by 86 points at Football Park.

For the next few months www.afc.com.au will run a regular feature highlighting the main footy news events from 20 years ago.