2002

Games Won 16

Ladder Position 4

Premiership position: 4th in 16-team competition (16 wins, 9 losses). 3rd at end of minor round (15 wins, 7 losses).

Coach: Gary Ayres

Captain: Mark Ricciuto

Adelaide’s rise under coach Gary Ayres continued in 2002 with a club record 15 minor round wins before the season ended in a preliminary final loss.

The return to the top four was a surprise to many after the Crows lost the goalscoring power of Darren Jarman and Matthew Robran (both retired) and Peter Vardy, traded to Melbourne.

But most of the experienced stars stayed healthy and a strong start to the premiership season – after winning three pre-season games to the reach the Wizard Cup semi-finals – helped the Crows stay inside the top four for most of the year.

Adelaide recruited South Australian forwards Ryan Fitzgerald (from Sydney) and Daniel Schell (from Fremantle) and also added former Sturt midfielder Ben Nelson and Kris Massie (both from Carlton) to the squad. Fitzgerald, who kicked five goals on debut for Sydney in 2000 but was held back by shoulder and knee injuries, kicked four goals against his former club in round three but needed another knee reconstruction after just eight games for the Crows.

Adelaide fell behind the Western Bulldogs in the second term in the opening game at Colonial Stadium but steadied to win by 19 points and then accounted for Geelong and Sydney before a big loss to Essendon. Port recovered from a 22-point deficit at half-time to win the round five Showdown.

After 11 rounds Adelaide was one of four teams with eight wins. Three consecutive losses sent it tumbling to eighth but a home win over St Kilda kicked off a five-game winning streak that included rare success over Geelong at Kardinia Park. Mark Ricciuto kicked five goals, including the last three goals of the match, in the thrilling three-point win.

Another narrow Showdown loss down helped Port move towards the minor premiership, while Mark Bickley was suspended for five games, ending his season.

But the Crows won the last two rounds to secure third spot, learning from the previous end-of-season failure and crushing Fremantle in Perth in round 21.

A daunting trip to Brisbane ended in a 71-point thumping in a sign of what was to come for the Lions. Adelaide kicked the first goal of the second qualifying final but Brisbane booted 13 of the next 14 goals to take command.

Adelaide then faced Melbourne but was denied a home semi-final to meet a contractual obligation by the AFL to play at least four finals each year at the MCG.

In an extraordinary contest, Adelaide led by 40 points at the first break, 17 points at half-time, and then trailed by 27 a couple of minutes before three-quarter time. The Crows then kicked six answered goals, and after Melbourne cut the gap to two points, Brett Burton’s late goal was enough for the Crows to advance. Nigel Smart became the first player to play 250 games with the Adelaide Football Club.

Adelaide returned to the MCG for the preliminary final against Collingwood, which upset Port in the first week of the finals. The Crows led by 17 points during the second term and by six points at half-time but lost Tyson Edwards (concussion and broken nose) and then Andrew McLeod (ankle).

Collingwood’s burst of five consecutive goals gave it a 25-point lead at the last change and although Adelaide kicked the first two goals of the final term, the Magpies responded to win by 28. They moved on to the grand final, where Brisbane made history with a third consecutive premiership.

Defender Ben Hart won his second Club Champion Award and earned his fourth All-Australian selection in a dominant year across half-back. His All-Australian nod came a decade after his first selection. He was the only player in the AFL to be on the field for every minute of every game during the season. Captain Ricciuto joined Hart in the AA team.

Edwards was Club Champion runner-up ahead of Best Team Man Tyson Stenglein and Mark Stevens, who tied for third place. Matthew Bode played every game in his second season with the Crows after just one appearance in 2001 and Brett Burton also enjoyed an injury-free run to finish as the club’s leading goalkicker with 51. Scott Welsh led the way with 26 goals in the first ten rounds before succumbing to osteitis pubis.

Graham Johncock burst on to the AFL scene in his second season, playing every game as a small forward or defender, and Rhett Biglands and Matthew Clarke formed a formidable ruck pair.

Crows team mates congratulate Graham Johncock for the Crows after the round one AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Adelaide Crows at the Colonial Stadium March 31, 2002 in Melbourne, Australia.

Ryan Fitzgerald of the Crows contests the mark against Dustin Fletcher of the Bombers during the round four AFL match between Essendon Bombers and the Adelaide Crows at the Colonial Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on April 19, 2002.

Matthew Bode of the Crows celebrates a final quarter goal during the round 10 AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Brisbane Lions at Football Park in Adelaide, Australia on June 1, 2002.

Andrew McLeod, Matthew Clarke and Tyson Stenglein of the Crows leaves the ground jubilant after winning the round 17 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Adelaide Crows at Skilled Stadium in Geelong, Australia on 27 July 2002.

Mark Ricciuto lets go a diving handball while under pressure during the round 17 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Adelaide Crows at Skilled Stadium in Geelong, Australia on 27 July 2002.

Darryl White #33 of the Lions marks in front of Nathan Bassett of the Crows during the AFL Second Qualifying Final between the Brisbane Lions and the Adelaide Crows at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia on September 7th, 2002.

Gary Ayres coach for the Crows remonstrates his players at the break during the First AFL Preliminary Final between the Collingwood Magpies and the Adelaide Crows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia on September 21, 2002.

(L-R) Kris Massie, Ben Hart #34, Tyson Stenglein and Chris Ladhams #40 of the Crows celebrate after winning the AFL Second Semi Final between the Melbourne Demons and the Adelaide Crows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia on September 14, 2002.

Nigel Smart of the Crows celebrates his 250th game and his teams victory after the AFL Second Semi Final between the Melbourne Demons and the Adelaide Crows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia on September 14, 2002.

Jubilant Crows players relax in the rooms after winning the AFL Second Semi Final between the Melbourne Demons and the Adelaide Crows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia on September 14, 2002.

(L-R) Kane Johnson, Rhett Biglands, Kris Massie and Matthew Clarke of the Crows sing the club song after winning the round 19 AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Essendon Bombers at AAMI Stadium in Adelaide, Australia on August 11, 2002.

Simon Goodwin #36 for the Crows leaves the ground dejected after losing the First AFL Preliminary Final between the Collingwood Magpies and the Adelaide Crows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia on September 21, 2002.

Other news

Retired premiership hero Darren Jarman returned to the club as an assistant to the coaches, specialising in goalkicking.
Adelaide played pre-season trials against SANFL clubs Central District and Norwood at The Parade, the day raising $18,000 for the NSW Bushfires Appeal.
High draft pick Laurence Angwin remained on the list in 2002 but went home to Victoria in January after a tumultuous first 12 months with the Crows.
Adelaide honoured premiership captain Mark Bickley with a Testimonial Year. Bickley was a late addition to Australian squad for the International Series tour to Ireland but broke his leg in the Second Test. Edwards was also added to the tour squad.
Football Park was renamed AAMI Stadium in July after the SANFL secured naming rights sponsorship.
In August, North Melbourne champion Wayne Carey announced his intention to play for the Crows from 2003.
Bob Marshall, the club’s doorman from 1991-95, was among 88 Australians killed in the Bali bombings on October 12. The 68-year-old official was travelling with his SANFL club Sturt on their end-of-season trip. Past Crows player Jason McCartney was also caught in the bombings. He suffered severe burns and almost died during surgery.

Awards and Achievements

All Australians: Ben Hart, Mark Ricciuto

Best Team Man: Mark Stevens

Coach’s Award: Tyson Stenglein

Members’ MVP: Tyson Edwards

Emerging Talent award: Graham Johncock

Leading goalkicker: Brett Burton

Past Players and Officials Player of the Year: Matthew Bode

AFC Life Membership: –

List changes

In: Ryan Fitzgerald (Sydney), Kris Massie (Carlton), Ben Nelson (Carlton), Daniel Schell (Fremantle), Trent Hentschel (Woodville-West Torrens), Ben Finnin (Northern U18), Brent Reilly (Calder U18), Jacob Schuback (Gippsland U18). Rookies: Nathan Bock (Woodville-West Torrens), Paul Thomas (Central District), Ben Rutten (West Adelaide), Martin Mattner (Sturt).

Out: Darren Jarman, Matthew Robran, Peter Vardy (Melbourne), Stuart Bown, James Byrne, Andrew Eccles (Carlton), David Gallagher (Carlton), Ricky O’Loughlin, Adam Richardson

First game players

Ryan Fitzgerald, v Western Bulldogs at Colonial Stadium (Melb), 31/3/02 (player debut order 124)

Graham Johncock, v Western Bulldogs at Colonial Stadium, 31/3/02 (125)

Ben Nelson, v Western Bulldogs at Colonial Stadium, 31/3/02 (126)

Daniel Schell, v Western Bulldogs at Colonial Stadium, 31/3/02 (127)

Kris Massie, v Port Adelaide at Football Park, 27/4/02 (128)

Martin Mattner, v Collingwood at Football Park, 7/7/02 (129)

Brent Reilly, v St Kilda at Football Park, 13/7/02 (130)

The 2002 squad

Back row (from left): Ken McGregor (16), Trent Hentschel (37), Matthew Smith (13), Ryan Fitzgerald (15), Ben Marsh (31), Matthew Clarke (4), Rhett Biglands (35), Evan Hewitt (2), Ian Perrie (22), Daniel Schell (27). Third row: Mark Stevens (19), Scott Welsh (17), Bryan Beinke (25), Nigel Smart (7), Michael Handby (29), Ben Finnin (30), Tyson Stenglein (20), Nathan Bassett (8), Andrew Crowell (1), Kris Massie (3), Kane Johnson (28), Brett Burton (24), Hayden Skipworth (14). Second row: James Gallagher (21), Matthew Bode (10), Chris Ladhams (40), Tyson Edwards (9), Michael Doughty (11), Brent Reilly (33), Robert Shirley (12), Mark Bickley (26), Jacob Schuback (38), Graham Johncock (18). Front row: Darren Jarman (assistant to coaching panel), Neil Craig (assistant coach), Ben Nelson (6), Simon Goodwin (36), Mark Ricciuto (captain), Gary Ayres (senior coach), Ben Hart (34), Andrew McLeod (23), Matthew Shir (5), Mark Mickan (assistant coach), Peter Curran (assistant coach).

2002 Jumpers

The numbers on the away guernsey were changed to solid, with no outline. But the 2001 version made an appearance against Geelong in round 17 after a baggage mistake! The main jumper was worn in all three finals.