Throwback: Six Showdown specials

Adelaide and Port Adelaide will add another chapter to their fierce rivalry when the teams face off for the 59th time this Friday night.

The Crows will be looking to extend their head-to-head advantage over the Power, as they lead 30-28.

Ahead of Showdown 59, take a look back six Showdown specials.

Ricciuto leads stunning comeback: R7, 2000

Adelaide 14.14 (98) d Port Adelaide 13.13 (91) at Football Park
Mark Ricciuto (41 disposals, 11 clearances, four goals)

Adelaide appeared to be heading for a crushing loss when the Power kicked the first two goals of the third term to lead by 42 points.

But from that point, the Crows added eight of the next nine goals to win by seven points.

At the centre of the stirring revival was Mark Ricciuto, a regular Showdown star.

One of the few Crows to stand up against Port’s dominance in the first half, he became the matchwinner by collecting 41 disposals, with 11 clearances and four goals, including a snap over his shoulder to give Adelaide the lead for the first time late in the last quarter.

Vince shines in heated clash: R3, 2008

Adelaide 12.13 (85) d Port 11.13 (79) at AAMI Stadium
Bernie Vince (24 disposals, six clearances, two goals)

Bernie Vince made his mark in one of the most heated Showdowns.

Adelaide stayed in the contest despite losing Nathan Bassett and Luke Jericho to serious contact injuries, and Vince also spent time on the bench during the third term after a heavy bump.

He returned and goaled with a set shot late in the quarter and then set up two of Adelaide’s goals in the final term.

The Crows led by 22 points with 11 minutes to play but Port kicked the last three goals to turn Showdown 24 into a six-point thriller.

Thompson dominates emotional Showdown: R16, 2015

Adelaide 17.11 (113) d Port 18.8 (116) at Adelaide Oval
Scott Thompson (36 disposals, 13 clearances, one goal)

On the emotional occasion that was Showdown 39, Scott Thompson produced one of the most dominant games of his career.

Thompson, then aged 32, had 36 possessions (22 contested), 13 clearances, kicked a goal and laid eight tackles.

He went home with the one-off Phillip Walsh Medal as best on ground in the gripping three-point win.

Adelaide led all day and when Thompson kicked his goal late in the third term the margin was out to 30 points.

But it was the Crows’ last goal and Port surged home to be down by only three points with a minute to play.

Jacobs controls ruck battle: R20, 2017

Adelaide 18.22 (130) d Port 7.4 (46) at Adelaide Oval
Sam Jacobs (12 disposals, two goals, 42 hit-outs)

Adelaide’s domination of Port in Showdown 43 was directed by ruckman Sam Jacobs, who was awarded his third Showdown Medal.

Jacobs clearly won his duel with Paddy Ryder, allowing the Crows midfielders including Brad Crouch and Rory Sloane to feature at centre bounce (18-8) and clearances (56-34).

This provided plenty of traffic for the forwards, with Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins both kicking four goals. Jacobs, who polled three Brownlow Medal votes, also kicked two goals in the 84-point win.

Dawson delivers after the siren: R3, 2022

Adelaide 15.6 (96) d Port 13.14 (92) at Adelaide Oval
Jordan Dawson (24 disposals, two goals)

In just his third AFL game for the Crows, Jordan Dawson delivered an iconic moment with an after-the-siren goal to win a Showdown.

As the Crows trailed by two points in the dying seconds, Lachie Murphy won a free kick for Adelaide but was injured and it was left to the new recruit to take the shot.

Dawson started the ball to the right but it drifted through to secure Adelaide’s first win of the season and spark wild celebrations in the forward pocket.

Port led by 19 points after 13 minutes of the final quarter but a goal to Lachy Sholl and then two by Elliott Himmelberg set up the epic finish.

Walker's seven-goal masterclass: R20, 2023

Adelaide 16.16 (112) d Port 9.11 (65) at Adelaide Oval
Taylor Walker (20 disposals, six marks, 7.4)

Walker won his first Showdown Medal after kicking seven goals in one of the best performances of his career, in the same week he signed a new deal to play on in 2024.

Adelaide broke a run of three consecutive losses by upsetting second-placed Port Adelaide, with Walker equalling the Showdown goals record shared by Tony Modra, Peter Vardy and Warren Tredrea.

He kicked a goal in the first quarter, two in the second and then four consecutive Crows goals from midway through the third term to the opening minute of the last quarter.