2003

Games Won 14

Ladder Position 5

Premiership position: 5th in 16-team competition (14 wins, 10 losses). 6th at end of minor round (13 wins, 9 losses).

Coach: Gary Ayres

Captain: Mark Ricciuto

Adelaide was on target for another top four finish before three consecutive losses to finish the 2003 minor round made its finals itinerary more demanding.

Coach Gary Ayres guided the Crows to another top eight finish but they won two fewer games during the home and away season and lasted one week less in the finals than in 2002.

Adelaide was in second spot after round 19 but dropped to sixth after losses to Collingwood, the Kangaroos and Port Adelaide and had to play an elimination final before losing to eventual premiers Brisbane.

It was the year the Crows tried to solve its forward troubles by recruiting former Kangaroos champion Wayne Carey and Geelong goalsneak Ronnie Burns. Carey, who turned 32 during the season, had not played since 2001 but was thought to be worth the investment as the Crows chased greater finals success.

Jason Torney (from Richmond) and James Begley (St Kilda), originally from the SANFL, were other experienced additions but two-time premiership star Kane Johnson moved to Richmond.

The premiership season fell away but Adelaide was able to celebrate the individual success of captain Mark Ricciuto, who became the first Crow to win a Brownlow Medal, won a second Club Champion award and was named in the All-Australian side for the sixth time.

The Brownlow Medal finished in a three-way tie, with Ricciuto, Collingwood’s Nathan Buckley and Sydney’s Adam Goodes all receiving 22 votes. Andrew McLeod was the early leader, polling six first preference votes in the first 13 rounds. But he stalled on 18 votes and Ricciuto received maximum votes in four of the six games from round 12. Goodes led by one vote with one round to count but Buckley and Ricciuto both picked up another single vote to join him on 22.

Adelaide started the year by winning the pre-season Wizard Home Loan Cup competition, defeating Port, West Coast and the Kangaroos before dominating Collingwood to win the grand final by 31 points at Telstra Dome (Docklands). McLeod won the Michael Tuck Medal as best afield.

Carey kicked four goals on debut in Adelaide’s 56-point opening round win over Fremantle, when Ben Hart celebrated his 250th AFL game. Torney also made a bright start to his Crows career with 28 possessions.

Adelaide collected two more wins in the next four rounds but after losing the Showdown, bounced back with an outstanding team performance in the much-hyped round six clash with the Kangaroos, when Carey faced his former team-mates and fans. His new team kept its focus to win by 54 points and Carey booted four goals.

Collingwood’s Chris Tarrant kicked a goal after the siren to hand the Magpies a five-point win in round seven. In round nine Adelaide trailed the Western Bulldogs by 22 points ten minutes into the last quarter but then kicked the next six goals but although the Crows then defeated Geelong at home for the second year in a row, they were ranked seventh after the five-point loss to Hawthorn at the MCG in round 11.

Adelaide then made its move, winning seven of the next eight games despite losing Carey to a knee injury after he collided with a goal post. The only loss in this time was to Fremantle, by one point at Subiaco Oval. Ben Rutten kicked three goals with his first three kicks in his AFL debut and the Crows led by 28 points early in the second term before the Dockers hit back.

Carey returned to kick five goals as Adelaide held on to defeat Sydney by three points in round 18 and the following week the Crows were back in Perth and became the first team to topple West Coast at home in the 2003 season.

But after losing to top-four challenger Collingwood the next week, a surprise ten-point loss at home against the Kangaroos followed by another Showdown loss against minor premiers Port relegated the Crows to sixth spot.

Some confidence returned in the elimination final against West Coast, the first final for the Crows at AAMI Stadium since 1997 and the Club’s 300th AFL premiership match. Adelaide was 26 points clear at half-time and kicked away in the second half to win by 56 points.

Mark Stevens kicked the first three goals for Adelaide to take an early break against Brisbane in the second semi-final at the Gabba. The home side lifted to lead by 17 points at half-time and although Adelaide regained the lead twice in the third quarter, Brisbane powered to a 42-point win with seven goals in the last quarter.

Ricciuto dominated the awards nights. In addition to winning the Brownlow Medal, Club Champion and earning All Australian selection, he claimed the club’s Best Team award, Past Players and Officials award and was voted MVP by Crows members.

Tyson Edwards was Club Champion runner-up for the second year in a row, McLeod came third and two-time premiership captain Mark Bickley was fourth in a strong finish to his 272-game AFL career. Fifth-placed Graham Johncock was the Leading Goalkicker with 30.

Carey missed eight games through injuries but still kicked 29 goals and finished eighth in the best-and-fairest. He showed his value in many games, including the first final against West Coast. Brett Burton finished sixth in the best-and-fairest despite missing a third of the season with an ankle injury.

Every game 2003

Round 1   Adelaide 22-13 (145) d Fremantle 13-11 (89)   AAMI Stadium   Crowd – 45,436
R 2   St Kilda 15-9 (99) d Adelaide 13-13 (91)   Telstra Dome   Crowd – 19,131
R 3   Adelaide 15-13 (103) d Sydney 11-10 (76)   SCG   Crowd – 23,651
R 4   Adelaide 15-16 (106) d West Coast 10-13 (73)   AAMI Stadium   Crowd – 42,579
R 5   Port Adelaide 12-6 (78) d Adelaide 9-12 (66)   AAMI Stadium   Crowd – 51,140
R 6   Adelaide 19-10 (124) d Kangaroos 9-16 (70)   Telstra Dome   Crowd – 38,469
R 7   Collingwood 18-6 (114) d Adelaide 16-13 (109   AAMI Stadium   Crowd – 44,706
R 8   Brisbane 16-11 (107) d Adelaide 12-17 (89)   Gabba   Crowd – 34,469
R 9   Adelaide 16-13 (109) d Bulldogs 14-9 (93)   AAMI Stadium   Crowd – 44,342
R 10   Adelaide 11-10 (76) d Geelong 8-11 (59)   Skilled Stadium   Crowd – 19,608
R 11   Hawthorn 11-9 (75) d Adelaide 10-10 (70)   MCG   Crowd – 25,851
R 12   Adelaide 21-12 (138) d Melbourne 10-5 (65)   AAMI Stadium   Crowd – 40,178
R 13   Adelaide 13-14 (92) d Carlton 7-8 (50)   Optus Oval   Crowd – 19,242
R 14   Adelaide 10-12 (72) d Richmond 6-8 (44)   AAMI Stadium   Crowd – 44,809
R 15   Adelaide 13-12 (90) d Essendon 7-7 (49)   AAMI Stadium   Crowd – 41,758
R 16   Fremantle 13-13 (91) d Adelaide 13-12 (90)   Subiaco Oval   Crowd 31,225
R 17   Adelaide 22-11 (143) d St Kilda 13-8 (86)   AAMI Stadium   Crowd – 44,667
R 18   Adelaide 14-13 (97) d Sydney 14-9 (93)   AAMI Stadium   Crowd – 46,945
R 19   Adelaide 13-13 (91) d West Coast 10-7 (67)   Subiaco Oval   Crowd – 39,681
R 20   Collingwood 15-18 (108) d Adelaide 11-5 (71)   Telstra Dome   Crowd – 45,367
R 21   Kangaroos 9-20 (74) d Adelaide 10-4 (64)   AAMI Stadium   Crowd – 42,259
R 22   Port Adelaide 14-10 (94) d Adelaide 12-6 (78)   AAMI Stadium   Crowd – 48, 131
Elim. Final   Adelaide 16-17 (113) d West Coast 8-9 (57)   AAMI Stadium   Crowd – 38,461
Semi-Final   Brisbane 18-16 (124) d Adelaide 12-10 (82)   Gabba   Crowd – 32,432

Mark Bickley of the Crows playing his last game is chaired off by team mate Andrew McLeod after the AFL Second Semi-Final between the Brisbane Lions and the Adelaide Crows at the Gabba September 12, 2003 in Brisbane, Australia.

Graham Johncock of the Crows celebrates a goal with Andrew McLeod during the round 12 AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Melbourne Demons at AAMI Stadium June 15, 2003 in Adelaide, Australia.

Mark Ricciuto is congratulated by teammates during the AFL Brownlow Medal Count held at Crown Casino on September 22, 2003 in Melbourne, Australia.

Mark Ricciuto of Adelaide, Nathan Buckley of Collingwood and Adam Goodes of Sydney with their medals after a three way tie during the AFL Brownlow Medal Count held at Crown Casino on September 22, 2003 in Melbourne, Australia.

Tyson Stenglein and Mark Ricciuto of the Crows lead the team onto the ground prior to the AFL Second Semi-Final between the Brisbane Lions and the Adelaide Crows at the Gabba September 12, 2003 in Brisbane, Australia.

Crows players celebrate after winning the round 13 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Adelaide Crows at the Optus Oval June 29, 2003 in Melbourne, Australia.

MELBOURNE – MAY 2: Wayne Carey #2 for the Crows takes a mark over Glenn Archer #11 for the Kangaroos during the round six AFL match between the Kangaroos and Adelaide Crows at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne, Australia on May 2, 2003. (Photo by Sean Garnsworthy/Getty Images)

Glenn Archer #11 for the Kangaroos confronts Wayne Carey for the Crows during the round six AFL match between the Kangaroos and the Adelaide Crows at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne, Australia on May 2, 2003.

Nathan Bassett of the Crows acknowledges the crowd after playing his 100th AFL game at the round 15 AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Essendon Bombers at AAMI Stadium July 11, 2003 in Adelaide, Australia.

Mark Ricciuto of the Crows in action during the round 17 AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the St Kilda Saints at AAMI Stadium July 27, 2003 in Adelaide, Australia.

Rhett Biglands of the Crows marks during the round 22 AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Adelaide Crows at AAMI Stadium August 31, 2003 in Adelaide, Australia.

Mark Ricciuto #32 of the Crows celebrates with team mate Matthew Bode after winning the AFL Second Elimination Final between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium September 6, 2003 in Adelaide, Australia.

Andrew McLeod #23 and Ronnie Burns for the Crows celebrate a goal during the round six AFL match between the Kangaroos and the Adelaide Crows at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne, Australia on May 2, 2003.

Andrew McLeod of the Crows celebrates with Simon Goodwin #36 after he kicked a final quarter goal during the round nine AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Western Bulldogs at AAMI Stadium in Adelaide, Australia on May 25, 2003

Tyson Edwards #9 for the Crows marks over Adrian Hickmott for the Blues during the round 13 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Adelaide Crows at the Optus Oval June 29, 2003 in Melbourne, Australia.

Matthew Bode of the Crows keeps his eyes on the ball during the AFL Wizard Cup Grand Final between the Collingwood Magpies and the Adelaide Crows at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne, Australia on March 15, 2003.

Ben Hart for the Crows is chaired off the ground after playing his 250th game at the round one AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Fremantle Dockers at AAMI Stadium in Adelaide, Australia on March 30, 2003.

Andrew McLeod for the Crows poses with the Michael Tuck Medal after the AFL Wizard Cup Grand Final between the Collingwood Magpies and the Adelaide Crows at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne, Australia on March 15, 2003.

Mark Ricciuto captain and Gary Ayres coach of the Crows hold the AFL Wizard Cup trophy after winning the AFL Wizard Cup Grand Final between the Collingwood Magpies and the Adelaide Crows at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne, Australia on March 15, 2003.

The Adelaide Crows team celebrate with the Wizard Cup trophy after winning the AFL Wizard Cup Grand Final between the Collingwood Magpies and the Adelaide Crows at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne, Australia on March 15, 2003.

Other news

Long-serving Crows CEO Bill Sanders returned to the Club, this time as the member-elected Board director. He had retired as CEO at the end of 2001, after 11 years in the role.
The Club opened its new Premiership Room at AAMI Stadium.
Adelaide renovated the Crows Social Club on the western side of AAMI Stadium and the new venue was renamed the Crows Tavern.
Season 2003 was a Testimonial Year for Nigel Smart, the last player remaining on the list from the club’s first game against Hawthorn in 1991.
Smart and Ben Hart were the first Crows players to be awarded AFL Life Membership for reaching 300 games (including pre-season competition, International Rules series and State-of-Origin).
Every home game sold out, with average crowds of 44,523.

Awards and Achievements

Brownlow Medal: Mark Ricciuto

All Australians: Mark Ricciuto

Best Team Man: Mark Ricciuto

Coach’s Award: Robert Shirley

Members MVP: Mark Ricciuto

Emerging Talent award: Brent Reilly

Leading goalkicker: Graham Johncock

Past Players and Officials Player of the Year: Mark Ricciuto

Michael Tuck Medal: Andrew McLeod

Showdown Medal: Graham Johncock (round five)

AFC Life Membership: Max Basheer, Andrew McLeod

List changes

In: Wayne Carey (North Melbourne), Ronnie Burns (Geelong), James Begley (St Kilda/Sturt)), Jason Torney (Richmond), Luke Jericho (West Adelaide), Nathan Bock (elevated rookie), Ben Rutten (elevated rookie), Martin Mattner (elevated rookie). Rookies: Hayden Skipworth, Jason Porplyzia (West Adelaide), Michael Bratton (Norwood), Aiden Parker (Subiaco)

Out: Kane Johnson (Richmond), Bryan Beinke, Ryan Fitzgerald, Evan Hewitt, Matthew Shir, Michael Handby, Laurence Angwin, Ben Finnin (Geelong)

First game players

Wayne Carey, v Fremantle at AAMI Stadium, 30/3/03 (player debut order 131)

Jason Torney, v Fremantle at AAMI Stadium, 30/3/03 (132)

Trent Hentschel, v Sydney at the SCG, 13/4/03 (133)

Ronnie Burns, v West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium, 20/4/03 (134)

James Begley, v Brisbane at the Gabba, 17/5/03 (135)

Ben Rutten, v Fremantle at Subiaco, 20/7/03 (136)

Jacob Schuback, v Collingwood at Telstra Dome, 15/8/03 (137)

Life Members

*2003 Board: Back row (from left): Peter Hurley, Alan Sheppard, Paul Rofe, Andrew Payze. Front row: Steven Trigg (CEO), Bob Campbell (chairman), Bill Sanders, John Sutton.*

The 2003 squad

Back row (from left): Kris Massie (3), Nathan Bassett (8), Nigel Smart (7), Tyson Stenglein (20), Daniel Schell (27), Trent Hentschel (37), Andrew Crowell (1), Luke Jericho (30), Jason Torney (15), Ben Nelson (6), Brett Burton (24). Third row: Martin Mattner (39), Ben Rutten (25), Ian Perrie (22), Mark Stevens (19), Rhett Biglands (35), Ben Marsh (31), Matthew Clarke (4), Ken McGregor (16), Nathan Bock (44), Wayne Carey (2), Matthew Smith (13), Robert Shirley (12). Second row: Neil Craig (assistant coach), Darren Jarman (assistant), Tyson Edwards (9), Simon Goodwin (36), Mark Ricciuto (32, captain), Gary Ayres (senior coach), Ben Hart (34), Andrew McLeod (23), Mark Bickley (26), Peter Curran (assistant coach), Mark Mickan (assistant coach). Front row: Ronnie Burns (5), Scott Welsh (17), James Begley (28), Chris Ladhams (40), Jacob Schuback (38), Brent Reilly (33), Michael Doughty (11), Graham Johncock (18), Matthew Bode (10), James Gallagher (21).

2003 Jumpers

The arrival of Russell Athletic led to another change of neckline style in 2003.

Jason Torney, Simon Goodwin and Graham Johncock; long-sleeved home; away and Mark Ricciuto in the away jumper.