Pre-season football has delivered many memorable moments for Crows fans.
In 1991, the Club was introduced to the public on the pre-season stage as fans flocked to see the tri-colours take to the field for the first time.
Since then there have been two pre-season premierships, thrilling wins against the cross-town rival Port Adelaide and even a whopping 147-point triumph.
Ahead of the Crows’ AAMI Community Series clash against Fremantle on Saturday, we have put together six of our favourite moments from pre-season matches.
1. Wizard Home Loans Cup grand final, March 15, 2003
Adelaide secured its first pre-season trophy at its third attempt, after losing grand finals in 1994 and 1995.
The Crows overpowered Collingwood by 31 points in a high-quality contest to win the Wizard Home Loans Cup and $200,000 cheque.
Champion Adelaide midfielder Andrew McLeod was voted best afield to win the Michael Tuck Medal in another damaging display on a big stage, adding to his two Norm Smith Medals from the 1997 and 1998 AFL grand finals.
Collingwood kicked the opening two goals of the match but the Crows were in front by quarter-time and then led by 32 points at half-time after a four-goal blitz in the previous ten minutes. Collingwood lifted early in the final quarter but the Crows skipped away.
Adelaide won despite using the game as preparation for the regular season. Mark Ricciuto, Mark Bickley and recruit Wayne Carey all started on the bench and played restricted minutes.
Final score: Adelaide 2.13.0.8 (104) d Collingwood 1.9.1.7 (73) at Docklands
2. NAB Cup Grand Final, March 17, 2012
Brenton Sanderson enjoyed a dream start as Adelaide’s senior coach, leading the side to an unbeaten pre-season series on the way to the 2012 pre-season NAB Cup title.
The Crows clinched their first piece of silverware since 2003 and the $180,000 prize money by crushing West Coast by 34 points in the final at AAMI Stadium.
Midfielder Bernie Vince won the Michael Tuck Medal as best afield after collecting 29 disposals.
Taylor Walker booted three goals, including a super goal in the second term to spark an Adelaide revival, and Matt Jaensch kicked an important nine-pointer in the third term after being subbed on at the main break.
It was Adelaide’s second pre-season title from five grand finals.
Michael Doughty, Graham Johncock and Brent Reilly also played in the 2003 pre-season Cup win.
Final score: Adelaide 2.10.17 (95) d West Coast 2.5.13 (61) at AAMI Stadium
2. Foster’s Cup Round One, February 13, 1991
There had been lots of summer hype around the new Adelaide Football Club but it went to another level when the Crows won their first pre-season game by 77 points.
After a race to sign players to contracts to allow them to play, the Crows took on Geelong – coached by Malcolm Blight – in the first round of the pre-season Fosters Cup at Football Park.
Adelaide dominated most of the last three quarters after an even start. The lead was 45 points at three-quarter time and eight last quarter goals completed the demolition.
Rover Darel Hart starred with six goals and Scott Lee, Andrew Jarman, David Marshall and Chris McDermott - wearing the Crows jumper for the first time - were other standouts.
On the same night, the Adelaide Football Club officially came to life. Documents making the Crows official were signed by AFL executive commissioner Alan Schwab, commission chairman Ross Oakley, SANFL president Max Basheer, general manager Leigh Whicker and AFC general manager Bill Sanders.
Final score: Adelaide 23.18 (156) d Geelong 11.13 (79) at Football Park
3. NAB Cup Grand Final, March 17, 2012
Brenton Sanderson enjoyed a dream start as Adelaide’s senior coach, leading the side to an unbeaten pre-season series on the way to the 2012 pre-season NAB Cup title.
The Crows clinched their first piece of silverware since 2003 and the $180,000 prize money by crushing West Coast by 34 points in the final at AAMI Stadium.
Midfielder Bernie Vince won the Michael Tuck Medal as best afield after collecting 29 disposals.
Taylor Walker booted three goals, including a super goal in the second term to spark an Adelaide revival, and Matt Jaensch kicked an important nine-pointer in the third term after being subbed on at the main break.
It was Adelaide’s second pre-season title from five grand finals.
Michael Doughty, Graham Johncock and Brent Reilly also played in the 2003 pre-season Cup win.
Final score: Adelaide 2.10.17 (95) d West Coast 2.5.13 (61) at AAMI Stadium
4. Wizard Home Loans Cup week one, February 22, 2003
Chris Ladhams won this entertaining game for the Crows with a difficult goal from the old scoreboard pocket boundary line in the last seconds.
A series of missed shots from both sides in the final minutes added to the drama before Ladhams won a free kick and then calmly slotted the goal for a one-point win.
Earlier, Port’s Peter Burgoyne had a chance to increase the margin to 12 points but missed from about 25 metres out.
Adelaide’s Nathan Bock sprayed a similar shot at the other end, Simon Goodwin failed to score from 40 metres out and then Matt Bode’s missed snap reduced the gap to five points.
The Crows started the night on top to lead by four goals at the first break but Port then was ahead by a goal at half-time and 18 points during the third term before holding a one-point lead at three-quarter-time.
Final score: Adelaide 1.10.0.9 (78) d Port Adelaide 0.11.0.11 (77) at AAMI Stadium
4. Foster’s Cup quarter-final, February 29, 1992
Modra-mania was still another year away but an exciting young full forward gave a peek at the future with six goals on debut.
Wearing No.44 but not listed on the team lists given to fans at the game, Anthony Modra paraded some of his weapons including a huge leap only two days after being officially added to Adelaide’s list from West Adelaide.
The former Riverland star kicked three goals in the second term, one at the end of the third and another two from pack marks in the last quarter, when commentator Ian Robertson shouted “Modraaaaaaa” and predicted “we’ll be saying that a few times this season”.
Modra made his premiership season debut as a late inclusion in round four (wearing No.6) and booted 21 goals from eight games in 1992 before exploding onto the scene the following year when he kicked 129 goals.
Final score: Adelaide 15.10 (100) d Footscray 9.7 (61) at Waverley Park
5. Wizard Home Loans Cup week one, February 22, 2003
Chris Ladhams won this entertaining game for the Crows with a difficult goal from the old scoreboard pocket boundary line in the last seconds.
A series of missed shots from both sides in the final minutes added to the drama before Ladhams won a free kick and then calmly slotted the goal for a one-point win.
Earlier, Port’s Peter Burgoyne had a chance to increase the margin to 12 points but missed from about 25 metres out.
Adelaide’s Nathan Bock sprayed a similar shot at the other end, Simon Goodwin failed to score from 40 metres out and then Matt Bode’s missed snap reduced the gap to five points.
The Crows started the night on top to lead by four goals at the first break but Port then was ahead by a goal at half-time and 18 points during the third term before holding a one-point lead at three-quarter-time.
Final score: Adelaide 1.10.0.9 (78) d Port Adelaide 0.11.0.11 (77) at AAMI Stadium
6. Foster’s Cup round one, February 24, 1993
Records tumbled and a coach was toppled when the Crows opened the 1993 pre-season series with a 147-point win.
North Melbourne did not kick a goal until ten minutes into the third quarter, having trailed by 43 and 86 points at the first two breaks. John Longmire kicked two of North’s three goals in the third term but the gap kept growing to 126 points at the last change and then a pre-season competition record margin.
On the night 17-year-old Mark Ricciuto made his official Crows debut, Scott Hodges was rested after kicking five goals in the first half and replacement Tony Modra then booted five second-half goals.
The scale of the loss ended the AFL coaching career of Wayne Schimmelbusch, who was replaced by Denis Pagan. North recovered to finish third at the end of the minor round and it was the start of a successful era for the club.
Final score: Adelaide 27.21 (183) d North Melbourne 5.6 (36) at Football Park
Records from every Crows pre-season game can be found here: Pre-season games, AFL | Adelaide Football Club
