2000

Games Won 9

Ladder Position 11

Premiership position: 11th in 16-team competition (9 wins, 13 losses)

Coach: Gary Ayres

Captain: Mark Bickley

There was no quick rebound in season 2000 from what many hoped was a hangover in 1999 after consecutive premierships.

A disappointing nine-win season under new coach Gary Ayres failed to match expectations and the Crows finished 11th, missing the finals for the seventh time in their first decade.

Ayres, the former Hawthorn five-time premiership star, Norm Smith Medallist and Geelong’s coach for the previous five seasons, had a nightmare start to a season that kicked off early so it would be completed before the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Four original Crows – Rod Jameson, Matthew Liptak, Simon Tregenza and David Pittman – were farewelled at the end of the 1999 season but the squad still looked strong. Headline recruits were Brisbane’s 1997 Club Champion Matthew Clarke and North Melbourne 1999 premiership forward Scott Welsh.

Ayres also appointed two new assistant coaches – inaugural Crows club champion Mark Mickan and his former Hawthorn team-mate Peter Curran.

But the Crows lost their first five games, including a dreadful 19-goal thrashing by West Coast in round four at the WACA in Perth.

Three consecutive wins, including a stunning Showdown success, raised some hope. The Crows were back in the top eight after crushing Fremantle in round 14 but then lost three of the next four games and then finished the season poorly with three more losses.

The seven-goal comeback in round seven against Port Adelaide in Showdown VII was the clear season highlight. Few will forget Mark Ricciuto’s match-winning four-goal effort against the Power and he was the worthy winner of the first official Showdown Medal as best-on-ground.

The thrilling nine-point victory against Richmond at Colonial Stadium in round 13 to mark Nigel Smart’s 200th AFL game was also memorable but in far too many other games the team played in patches.

Simon Goodwin’s rise to the elite level was important for the club’s future. He played across half-back in two AFL Premierships early in his AFL career but battled injuries and inconsistency before a break-out season in the midfield secured his first Crows Club Champion award and All Australian selection.

Cub Champion runner-up Andrew McLeod shook off concerns over his injured knee to produce his best AFL season, earning his second All Australian guernsey and polling 20 Brownlow Medal votes to finish third. Ricciuto became the first Crow to win four All Australian jumpers.

Tyson Edwards also enjoyed more midfield time and emerged as one of the Crows’ most important players. Shaun Rehn made a successful comeback from his third knee reconstruction, although he did miss five games with a fractured cheekbone.

In Mark Bickley’s last season as captain he won his third Best Team Man award.

Welsh was the leading goalkicker, with 47 in his first season at West Lakes. Darren Jarman missed eight games at the end of the season with hamstring and calf injuries but still kicked 36 goals in 14 appearances.

Andrew McLeod of the Crows celebrates during the 2000 round 7 AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Adelaide Crows at Football Park.

Shaun Rehn of the Crows sporting a bandaged knee during the 2000 round 1 AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Western Bulldogs at Football Park.

Andrew Eccles of the Crows runs the baall forward during the 2000 round 1 AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Western Bulldogs at Football Park.

Ben Marsh of the Crows holds off Ben Holland of the Tigers in the ruck contest during the 2000 round 13 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Adelaide Crows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Matthew Robran of the Crows leaps onto the back of Ben Graham of the Cats for a mark during the 2000 round 18 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Adelaide Crows at Shell Stadium.

Mark Ricciuto of the Crows mounts the back of Carl Steinfort for the Cats to take a one handed mark during the 2000 round 18 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Adelaide Crows at Shell Stadium.

Crows players run through the banner before the 2000 round 13 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Adelaide Crows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Nigel Smart of the Crows chaired off by team mates after playing his 200th game at the 2000 round 13 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Adelaide Crows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Nigel Smart of the Crows watches play up the field during the 2000 round 16 AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Adelaide Crows at the Colonial Stadium.

Crows players run through the banner before the 2000 round 6 AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Hawthorn Hawks at Football Park.

Nathan Bassett of the Crows looks to spoil the mark as David Neitz of the Demons dives to take it during the 2000 round 11 AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Melbourne Demons at Football Park.

Nathan Bassett of the Crows celebrates on the ground after winning the 2000 round 13 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Adelaide Crows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Rhett Biglands of the Crows and Matthew Primus of Port contest the ruck during the 2000 round 7 AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Adelaide Crows at Football Park.

Ben Dixon of the Hawks and Tyson Edwards of the Crows contests for the ball during the 2000 round 21 AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Adelaide Crows at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Tyson Edwards of the Crows looks to handpass while under pressure from Josh Francou of Port during the 2000 round 7 AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Adelaide Crows at Football Park.

General view of the centre bounce in front of the main grandstand during the AFL International Challenge match between the Melbourne Demons and the Adelaide Crows at the Oval in London.

Other news

Adelaide’s retained surplus for 2000 was $340,700 after payment of the sub-licence fee to the SANFL of $1,099,265. The total distribution to the SANFL in the first ten years was $11.04 million.
At the start of the year Adelaide paid off its $4 million AFL licence.
After ten years, inaugural Crows Chairman Bob Hammond retired at the end of the season. “This has been a special time in my life,” he said. “I am proud of what the club has achieved. And I feel privileged to have been part of it.”
Nigel Smart was the first Crow to play 200 AFL games (in round 13) and was followed by Mark Bickley (round 15) and Ben Hart (round 20).
With the support of the State Government, AFL and SANFL, work started on the construction of a new 7000-seat grandstand at the northern end of Football Park.
Adelaide played its first game at the AFL’s new Melbourne ground at the Docklands (Colonial Stadium) in round eight, defeating St Kilda by 40 points.
Adelaide announced its Team of the Decade to commemorate the club’s first ten years. Ricciuto was named Player of the Decade.
A group of 26 players and 16 officials toured England and Ireland in early October. Adelaide played an exhibition game at The Oval, London, on Saturday, October 7, but lost to Melbourne in the rain by 19 points.
McLeod, Ricciuto and Goodwin represented Australia in the International Series against Ireland.

Awards and Achievements

All Australian: Andrew McLeod, Simon Goodwin, Mark Ricciuto

Best Team Man: Mark Bickley

Coach’s Award: Mark Ricciuto

Members MVP: Mark Ricciuto

Emerging Talent: Tyson Stengelin

Leading goalkicker: Scott Welsh

Past Players and Officials Player of the Year award: Simon Goodwin

Showdown Medal: Mark Ricciuto (round seven)

AFC Life Membership: Shaun Rehn, Ben Hart, Bob Hammond, Bill Sanders, Bob Campbell

List changes

In: Matthew Clarke (Brisbane), Scott Welsh (North Melbourne), Rhett Biglands (Woodville West Torrens), James Byrne (Glenelg), Justin Cicolella (Woodville-West Torrens), Andrew Crowell (Woodville-West Torrens), Ricky O’Loughlin (Port Magpies), Matthew Shir (Murray U18), Robert Shirley (Woodville-West Torrens), Balraj Singh (West Adelaide). Rookies: Michael Doughty (South Adelaide), Josh Coulter (Central District), Jon Yerbury (Norwood), Chris Robertson (North Adelaide)

Out: Brodie Atkinson, Ian Downsborough, Lucas Herbert, Rod Jameson, Clint Kirey, Matthew Liptak, Lance Picioane (Hawthorn), David Pittman, Simon Tregenza, Daryl Wintle

First game players

James Byrne, v Western Bulldogs at Football Park, 11/3/00 (debut order 107)

Matthew Clarke, v Western Bulldogs at Football Park, 11/3/00 (108)

Andrew Crowell, v Western Bulldogs at Football Park, 11/3/00 (109)

Scott Welsh, v Western Bulldogs at Football Park, 11/3/00 (110)

Justin Cicolella, v Geelong at Football Park, 25/3/00 (111)

Robert Shirley, v Geelong at Football Park, 25/3/00 (112)

Rhett Biglands, v Brisbane at the Gabba, 8/4/00 (113)

Ricky O’Loughlin, v Brisbane at the Gabba, 8/4/00 (114)

Michael Doughty, v Hawthorn at Football Park, 16/4/00 (115)

The 2000 squad

Back row (from left): Ben Hart (34), Peter Caven (44), Ken McGregor (16), Matthew Clarke (4), Ben Marsh (31), Rhett Biglands (35), Matthew Robran (10), Ian Perrie (22), Balraj Singh (15), Tyson Stenglein (20). Third row: James Thiessen (29), Simon Goodwin (36), Darren Jarman (3), Kane Johnson (28), Shane Ellen (13), Nathan Bassett (8), Andrew Crowell (1), Andrew Eccles (33), Bryan Beinke (25), Brett Burton (24), Matt Connell (14). Second row: Peter Curran (assistant coach). Brett James (11), Peter Vardy (30), David Gallagher (38), Robert Shirley (12), James Byrne (6), Mark Stevens (19), Ricky O’Loughlin (27), Scott Welsh (17), Matthew Shir (2), Trent Ormond-Allen (21), Mark Mickan (assistant coach). Front row: Tyson Edwards (9), Kym Koster (5), Shaun Rehn (52), Nigel Smart (7), Gary Ayres (coach), Mark Bickley (captain, 26), Darel Hart (assistant coach), Mark Ricciuto (32), Andrew McLeod (23), Justin Cicolella (42), Troy Bond (18). Not in photo (rookies): Matthew Golding (37), Josh Coulter (39), Chris Robertson (40), Michael Doughty (41), Jonathon Yerbury (43), Stuart Bown (45)

2000 Jumpers

A new AFL logo was the main change on the home jumper in 2000 but it was also the first year of polyester guernseys. The number on the away/clash guernsey switched from red to gold. Sleeve edges on the away guernsey were thick, blue with gold trim, and there was also gold trim on the collar.

Peter Vardy and Simon Goodwin in the 2000 home jumper; Darren Jarman; slight change to the collar on the away; Gold numbers on the back (Matthew Robran).