Life Member Graham Cornes
One of Adelaide’s first key appointments in October, 1990, was its first coach. And the nod went to Graham Cornes, who had coached Glenelg the previous six seasons and had also had success as South Australia’s State-of-Origin coach. A week after 42-year-old Cornes was appointed, he took charge of a huge training squad of players from all SANFL clubs.
“I don’t think people appreciated the size of the task – getting 66 players together from 10 clubs, each with different backgrounds, and aiming them at a competition that most had never experienced,” Cornes said.
Under Cornes, Adelaide won 43 of 89 games in its first four seasons. It finished ninth, ninth, third and 11th. But the year after he guided the Crows to their first finals wins and as far a preliminary final, the Club wanted a new coach.