1991: Adelaide’s first trial game

Adelaide’s first trial game against an AFL rival created hype at a level usually reserved for finals.

“HEROES” was the banner headline on the front page of the Sunday Mail, which produced a souvenir wrap-around to mark Adelaide’s 27-point win over 1990 grand finalists Essendon under lights at a packed Football Park.

Thousands of South Australian fans headed to West Lakes to watch the Crows play for the first time and most didn’t know what to expect. Although many fans gave up or were caught in traffic jams, about 45,000 people witnessed a historic moment for the new club.

A Crows ‘B’ team – strengthened by the addition of soon-to-be-named captain Chris McDermott, Simon Tregenza and Danny Hughes – thrashed new amalgamated SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens by 63 points in the first game.

And then any doubts about whether the football public would get behind the Adelaide Football Club evaporated in the main game, as the impressive Crows kicked away in the last quarter.

The day after the Club officially announced Toyota Australia as its major sponsor, acting captain Tony McGuinness, John Klug and David Marshall were listed as best players by the Sunday Mail, and full forward Scott Hodges kicked four goals. Grantley Fielke kicked Adelaide’s first goal of the trial.

The team named to play Essendon was:

F: Lindsay, Hodges, Fielke. HF: Lindner, Klug, Smart. C: Kelly, Jarman, Marshall. HB: Thompson, Bartlett, Schwerdt. B: Lee, Warhurst, Maynard. R: Negri, McGuinness, D. Hart. Int (from): Smith, Hocking, Rowe, Mickan.

Coach Graham Cornes didn’t get carried away by the win. “Our preparation has been intense and our motivation was obviously much stronger than Essendon’s,” he said. “It would have been disappointing to lose. I’m normally very objective about these matters but this game was very special and we had everything in our favour. It’s going to be a long, long and, at times. bumpy road.

“The support we had from the South Australian football public was just overwhelming. It really is just another step in our preparation.”

Interim board member and chairman of selectors Bob Hammond said: “That was day one – just one in a very long climb.” But years later Hammond, who became Crows chairman for the first decade, rated the night as significant in winning over the public and sponsors. The win sparked high demand for season tickets and merchandise.

Even Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy was impressed: “They played pretty good footy and they were committed. And they handpassed that quick I thought they had slingshots.”