2008

Games Won 13

Ladder Position 7

Premiership position: 7th in 16-team competition (13 wins, 10 losses). Finished minor round 5th (13 wins, nine losses)

Coach: Neil Craig

Captain: Simon Goodwin

The bookends to Adelaide’s 2008 season were black and white, literally.

In February the Crows travelled to Dubai to crush Collingwood on a converted polo pitch in the NAB Cup and they finished against the same team at AAMI Stadium, a 31-point elimination final loss ending Adelaide’s September dreams.

Between these distinct points it was a year of development, on and off the field.

The pre-season with an overseas twist was mainly positive. Adelaide exposed some younger players to the competition and reached the NAB Cup grand final, losing to St Kilda by five points at AAMI Stadium.

Adelaide’s strong form was perhaps a slight surprise, having made major list changes in the off-season. For the first time since 1992 Mark Ricciuto was not part of the Crows squad. The retired 2003 Brownlow Medallist was one of 13 list changes. Others to depart at the end of 2007 included four-time leading goalkicker Scott Welsh, Ian Perrie, Martin Mattner, Ben Hudson and Matthew Bode. Additionally, ruck Rhett Biglands was unavailable after injuring a knee in the 2006 preliminary final and then requiring a second knee reconstruction early in 2008.

Patrick Dangerfield was the headline early selection among seven national draft picks but did not move to Adelaide from near Geelong, staying home to complete Year 12 studies. He did make his AFL debut, however, late in the season.

The first half of the season provide a mix of results – from the three-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in round one when Nathan Bock missed a 45-metre shot on goal on the siren, to the heroic Showdown win in round three and round seven win over North Melbourne, in front of the 1998 premiership players.

By the halfway mark Adelaide had eight wins in the bank but it then endured a five-game losing streak that threatened to send the team into a spiral.

Adelaide pulled out of the nose-dive by thumping Sydney at the SCG and then won four of the last five. The last round victory against the Bulldogs briefly moved Adelaide into fourth spot but St Kilda’s big win over Essendon the next day dropped Adelaide down to fifth and into a challenging elimination final at AAMI Stadium.

The Crows trailed by 19 points at one stage in the first quarter, then hit back to lead by two goals at half-time. Collingwood pulled away again in the third term, and although Adelaide closed to within seven points midway through the final term, the visitors kicked the last four goals of the match. Scott Stevens was Adelaide’s best, kicking a career-high six goals.

It was an abrupt end to the year after the Crows looked well placed to challenge the top teams in their fourth consecutive season of finals.

Bock took all before him in 2008 and established himself as the competition’s premier centre half back. He had 35 disposals and 16 marks against Hawthorn in Round 12, when he kept Lance Franklin to one goal, and it was no surprise when he was named in the All Australian team and won the 2008 Crows Club Champion award.

Brett Burton was Adelaide’s leading goalkicker with 34 but the Crows missed his spark after he ruptured his ACL against Collingwood in round 15.

In his first official year as captain Simon Goodwin was again a fantastic contributor. He began in blistering form, kicking seven goals against West Coast in round two. Despite struggling with a back injury for a large part of the season, Goodwin finished second in the club champion count.

A career best year saw Michael Doughty collect the Best Team Man award, and he finished fifth in the best and fairest.

2008 was a breakout season for Porplyzia, who booted 32 goals in 18 games, including a match-winning and brave bag of five against the Swans in round 17. Porplyzia’s sore shoulder became an issue in the latter half of the season, continually popping in and out of the socket during games, training and even at home. The 23-year-old battled through the pain to play a significant role in getting the Crows to the finals but was forced to pull out before the elimination final against Collingwood.

Kurt Tippett and David Mackay, both injured for most of their first year at the Crows, were among eight players to debut for the Club in 2008.

Andrew McLeod became the third Crow (after Ben Hart and Mark Ricciuto) to play 300 AFL games, reaching the milestone in Round 19 against Richmond. But some Crows favourites – Nathan Bassett, Rhett Biglands and Ken McGregor – retired at the end of the season. Bassett played his 200th AFL game in round 13 and McGregor celebrated 150 games in round five.

Tyson Edwards of Adelaide marks strongly over Daniel Giansiracusa of the Western Bulldogs during the AFL Round 01 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Adelaide Crows at the Telstra Dome.

Scott Stevens from Adelaide is tackled by Ben Hudson from Western Bulldogs during the AFL Round 01 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Adelaide Crows at the Telstra Dome.

David Mackay of the Crows tackled by Tyson Stenglein of the Eagles during the AFL Round 02 match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium.

Brad Symes of Adelaide in action during the AFL Round 04 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Adelaide Crows at Aurora Stadium.

Garrick Ibbotson of the Dockers clashes with Jarrhan Jacky of the Crows during the AFL Round 05 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Fremantle Dockers at AAMI Stadium.

Andrew McLeod of Adelaide celebrates during the AFL ANZAC Day Round 06 match between the Carlton Blues and the Adelaide Crows at the MCG.

Luke Ball (L) of St Kilda and Bernie Vince of Adelaide search for the ball during the NAB Cup Grand Final between the Adelaide Crows and the St Kilda Saints at AAMI Stadium.

Matt Campbell of the Kangaroos tackled by Chris Knights of the Crows during the AFL Round 07 match between the Adelaide Crows and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at AAMI Stadium.

Brett Burton, Andrew McLeod and Simon Goodwin of the crows sing the club song after victory in the AFL Round 07 match between the Adelaide Crows and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at AAMI Stadium.

Brett Burton of the Crows marks over Matthew Warnock of the Demons during the AFL Round 08 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Melbourne Demons at AAMI Stadium.

West Coast’s David Wirrpanda in action during the AFL Indigenous Round 09 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Adelaide Crows at Subiaco.

Graham Johncock gets airborne during the AFL Round 10 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Essendon Bombers at AAMI Stadium.

Luke Jericho from Adelaide celebrates a goal during the AFL Round 11 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Adelaide Crows at the MCG.

Ivan Maric of the Crows during the AFL Round 12 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Hawthorn Hawks at AAMI Stadium.

Nathan van Berlo of Adelaide and Tom Collier of Brisbane during the AFL Round 13 match between the Brisbane Lions and the Adelaide Crows at the Gabba.

James Kelly is tackled by Nathan Bock during the AFL Round 14 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Geelong Cats at AAMI Stadium.

Adelaide’s Brett Burton and Collingwood’s Nick Maxwell in action during the AFL Round 15 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Adelaide Crows at the MCG.

Jason Porplyzia of Adelaide celebrates a goal as Lewis Roberts-Thomson of Sydney looks on during the AFL Round 17 match between the Sydney Swans and the Adelaide Crows at the SCG.

Bryce Gibbs of the Blues dives to spoil Bernie Vince of the Crows during the AFL Round 18 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at AAMI Stadium.

Kris Massie of the Crows celebrates a goal with team-mate Richard Douglas during the AFL Round 19 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at AAMI Stadium.

Joel Bowden of the Tigers shakes hands with Andrew McLeod of the Crows after the AFL Round 19 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at AAMI Stadium.

Adelaide’s Tyson Edwards and Essendon’s Andrew Lovett in action during the AFL Round 20 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Adelaide Crows at the Telstra Dome.

Nick Gill in action during the AFL Round 20 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Adelaide Crows at the Telstra Dome.

St Kilda’s Shane Birss tackls Adelaide’s Chris Knights during the AFL Round 21 match between the St Kilda Saints and the Adelaide Crows at the Telstra Dome.

Ivan Maric leads the pack to the ball during the AFL Round 22 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Western Bulldogs at AMMI Stadium.

Andrew McLeod marks on the run during the AFL Round 22 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Western Bulldogs at AMMI Stadium.

Andrew McLeod and Nathan VanBerlo of the Crows celebrate a goal during the AFL 1st Elimination Final between the Adelaide Crows and the Collingwood Magpies at AAMI Stadium.

Nathan Bassett is chaired off in his final game after losing the AFL 1st Elimination Final between the Adelaide Crows and the Collingwood Magpies at AAMI Stadium.

Awards and Achievements

All Australian: Nathan Bock

Best Team Man: Michael Doughty

Mark Bickley Award: David Mackay

Members MVP: Nathan Bock

Leading goalkicker: Brett Burton

Emerging Talent: Kurt Tippett

Club Coach’s Award: Richard Douglas

Showdown Medal: Bernie Vince (round three).

AFC Life Membership: Matthew Robran, Darren Jarman, Nathan Bassett, Ian Perrie, Dr Brian Sando OAM, Tony Modra.

Other news

Andrew McLeod, Simon Goodwin, Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Nathan Bock and Brett Burton played for the Dream Team against Victoria at the MCG in the Australian Football Hall of Fame tribute match. Victoria won by 17 points.
At the end of the year Bill Sanders retired from the Board, completing 17 years of official service. He was the Club’s first general manager from late in 1990 until the end of 2001, joined the AFC Board in 2003, and then served as chairman from 2004 until the end of 2008.
Adelaide’s win against Essendon in round 20 was the first time the Crows had beaten the Bombers in Melbourne.
Bock and Scott Thompson represented Australia in the International Series against Ireland. Tests were played in Perth and Melbourne.
Early in the season Adelaide confirmed its plans for a major training facility redevelopment at AAMI Stadium, to be completed for the 2010 pre-season.
The Crows renewed their major partnership with Toyota for a further three years.

List changes

In: Brad Symes (Port Adelaide), Brad Moran (North Melbourne), Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong U18), Andy Otten (Oakleigh U18), Jarrhan Jacky (Subiaco), Myke Cook (Sandringham U18), Tony Armstrong (Calder U18), Aaron Kite (Calder U18), Taylor Walker (NSW Scholarship upgrade, Broken Hill). Rookies: Ed Curnow (Geelong U18), Brodie Martin (Sturt), James Moss (Central District), Jared Petrenko (Woodville-West Torrens).

Out: Mark Ricciuto (retired), Ben Hudson (Western Bulldogs), Martin Mattner (Sydney), John Meesen (Melbourne), Scott Welsh (Western Bulldogs), Matthew Bode, John Hinge, Ian Perrie, Darren Pfeiffer, Jason Torney, Andrew McIntyre (rookie), James Turner (rookie), Rhys Archard (rookie).

First game players

David Mackay, v Western Bulldogs at Telstra Stadium, 23/3/08 (debut order 155)

Brad Symes, v Western Bulldogs at Telstra Stadium, 23/3/08 (156)

Kurt Tippett, v Western Bulldogs at Telstra Stadium, 23/3/08 (157)

Jarrhan Jacky, v Fremantle at AAMI Stadium, 19/4/08 (158)

James Sellar, v North Melbourne at AAMI Stadium, 3/5/08 (159)

Andy Otten, v Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium, 14/6/08 (160)

Brad Moran, v Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, 20/7/08 (161)

Patrick Dangerfield, v St Kilda at Telstra Stadium, 24/8/08 (162)

2008 Life Members

The 2008 squad

Back row (from left): Jason Porplyzia (locker number 40), Richard Douglas (26), Luke Jericho (30), Ken McGregor (16), Taylor Walker (13), Bernie Vince (17), Kris Massie (3), Andy Otten (22), Chris Knights (21), Scott Thompson (5), Robert Shirley (12), Andrew McLeod (23), Bryce Campbell (31). Third row: David Noble (assistant coach), Peter Jonas (assistant coach), Aaron Kite (28), Nick Gill (1), Trent Hentschel (37), Ivan Maric (20), Kurt Tippett (4), Rhett Biglands (35), Jonathon Griffin (6), Brad Moran (2), James Sellar (29), Scott Stevens (27), Nathan Bock (44), Ben Hart (assistant coach), Paul Hamilton (assistant coach). Second row: Graham Johncock (18), Brad Symes (15), Tyson Edwards (9), Nathan Bassett (8), Simon Goodwin (captain, 36), Neil Craig (senior coach), Ben Rutten (25), Brett Burton (24), Nathan van Berlo (7), Brent Reilly (33), Michael Doughty (11). Front row: Greg Gallman (34), David Mackay (14), James Moss (rookie, 43), Tony Armstrong (38), Brodie Martin (rookie, 41), Myke Cook (39), Jarrhan Jacky (10), Jared Petrenko (rookie, 42), Ed Curnow (rookie, 45), Patrick Dangerfield (19).

2008 Jumpers

Adelaide introduced a new away jumper in 2008, based on the design used for the Club’s first pre-season guernsey in 1996. A key factor behind the change was that the AFL deemed the previous main away guernsey clashed with seven AFL clubs. The new away jumper was first worn in the opening round of the season against the Western Bulldogs and the Crows also kept the red clash jumper for three away games.