The first 52 Crows of 1991
Adelaide finalised its first AFL list only two weeks before its first premiership game. The inaugural 52 included ten junior footballers and players from all ten SANFL clubs of 1990.
Bruce Abernethy
Guernsey number: 5.
Crows debut: Round 3 v Sydney, 1991.
AFC games: 11. AFC goals: 2.
Recruited from: Port Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: May 10, 1962.
Abernethy started his SANFL career with Port Adelaide in 1979 and played in three premierships in his first three years. The classy wingman moved to the VFL in 1982 and played 43 games for North Melbourne in two seasons before joining Collingwood, where he played 58 games in three years. Abernethy then chose to return to Port Adelaide, won the best-and-fairest in 1987 and played in its 1988, 1989 and 1990 SANFL premiership teams. He won the Jack Oatey Medal as best afield in the 1988 final.
Allan Bartlett
Guernsey number: 14.
Crows debut: Round 2 v Carlton, 1991.
AFC games: 11. AFC goals: 3.
Recruited from: Glenelg (SANFL).
DOB: May 23, 1967.
Bartlett was a hard-working centre half-forward or key defender who had played 46 league games for Glenelg since his debut in 1989.
Darren Bartsch
Original squad selection 1991
Did not play an AFL game.
Recruited from: West Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: April 28, 1969.
One of the most talented young ruckmen in SA, the former Riverlander played 29 league games for West before the Crows called. Earlier, he had been drafted by West Coast and Geelong but opted to stay in his home State.
Mark Bickley
Guernsey number: 26.
Crows debut: Round 4 v Essendon, 1991.
AFC games: 272. AFC goals: 77.
Recruited from: South Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: August 4, 1969.
Port Pirie product Bickley was one of the last players chosen in Adelaide’s inaugural 52-man squad, after playing 53 league games for South Adelaide.
Randall Bone
Guernsey number: 51.
Crows debut: Round 3 v Melbourne, 1992.
AFC games: 12. AFC goals: 13
Recruited from: South Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: November 13, 1973.
A tall and powerful forward from Willunga, who was one of the ten juniors selected by the Crows.
David Brown
Guernsey number: 21.
Crows debut: Round 12 v Fitzroy, 1991.
AFC games: 69. AFC goals: 55.
Recruited from: Port Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: September 29, 1969.
An unfashionable and courageous small forward/midfielder, Brown played in two SANFL premierships with Port (and missed two through injury) before joining Adelaide’s inaugural squad for the 1991 season.
Trevor Clisby
Did not play an AFL game
Recruited from: North Adelaide (SANFL)
DOB: March 8, 1961
A reliable key defender for North Adelaide over many years and more than 250 SANFL games, Clisby was badly injured in a pre-season game with the Crows.
Guernsey number: 30.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 24. AFC goals: 6.
Recruited from: West Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: March 18, 1962.
From Loxton in SA’s Riverland, Fielke was a star wingman with West Adelaide from 1979 and played in the club’s 1983 premiership side. He won the Magarey Medal in 1985 and then had a year with Collingwood in 1987, playing 15 games, but returned to SA for family reasons.
Guernsey number: 34.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Footscray, 1992.
AFC games: 311. AFC goals: 45.
Recruited from: North Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: July 9, 1974.
The youngest player in Adelaide’s foundation squad, Hart was wearing his Rostrevor College uniform when the 16-year-old Year 12 student was first introduced to the media in 1991. Hart had made his SANFL league debut for North Adelaide in the 1990 finals.
Guernsey number: 3.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 39. AFC goals: 14.
Recruited from: North Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: January 3, 1964.
Hart had already played 211 SANFL games when signed by the Crows. His SANFL career started at Central District but he made his name at North Adelaide, where he won club champion awards in 1986-87 and 1990 and captained the club to the 1987 premiership. He also represented South Australia. Was drafted by St Kilda at end of 1989 and kicked 50 goals for North in 1990.
Guernsey number: 8.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 11. AFC goals: 4.
Recruited from: Central District (SANFL).
DOB: January 6, 1970.
Adelaide’s first Indigenous player, he was runner-up for the Magarey Medal in 1990 to Scott Hodges and had played 65 games for Centrl District.
Jarrod Hocking
Original squad selection 1991
Did not play an AFL game
Recruited from: Glenelg (SANFL)
DOB: March 7, 1973
One of the ten junior players chosen on the first Crows list, Hocking made his SANFL debut for Glenelg in 1991.
Guernsey number: 17 (1991-93)
Crows debut: Round 2 v Carlton, 1991.
AFC games: 38. AFC goals: 100.
Recruited from: Port Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: April 26, 1968.
Hodges arrived at the Crows having built a great reputation in the SANFL, where the Port Adelaide full forward kicked a league record 153 goals on the way to winning the 1990 Magarey Medal, Port’s best-and-fairest and a premiership (his third). He joined Adelaide after settling a contract dispute leading into the first season.
Guernsey number: 19.
Crows debut: Round 3 v Sydney, 1991.
AFC games: 11. AFC goals: 1.
Recruited from: Melbourne.
DOB: December 4, 1963.
A best and fairest winner at Melbourne in 1985 after being recruited from Port Adelaide where he played in the 1981 premiership. An All-Australian after the 1988 State-of-Origin carnival, Hughes returned to SA after 124 games with the Demons.
Guernsey number: 35
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 153. AFC goals: 113.
Recruited from: Glenelg (SANFL)
DOB: June 30, 1970
It was as a midfielder that Jameson first made his name with SANFL club Glenelg, where he played 45 games before the arrival of the Adelaide Football Club stopped him from joining North Melbourne.
Andrew Jarman
Guernsey number: 2.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 110 AFC goals: 92.
Recruited from: Norwood (SANFL).
DOB: January 14, 1966.
He was only 24 when Adelaide pieced together its training squad but Andrew Jarman already had a football bio ranked with the best in the SANFL. One of the most gifted midfielders of his time, Jarman had won a Magarey Medal, two club best-and-fairests, a premiership, All-Australian selection (twice) on the back of outstanding performances for South Australia, and played 196 games at North Adelaide and Norwood. Drafted by Brisbane in 1989.
Matthew Kelly
Guernsey number: 42.
Crows debut: Round 16 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 2. AFC goals: 0.
Recruited from: Norwood.
DOB: July 2, 1971.
Kelly was a talented midfielder/flanker who made his league debut in 1989 and played 21 games for Norwood in his first two seasons. He nearly went to Collingwood at the end of 1990 but chose to stay in South Australia to join the Crows.
Guernsey number: 20.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 26. AFC goals: 35.
Recruited from: Woodville.
DOB: September 28, 1965.
Klug took some time to push through to the highest level. The clever centre half-forward played 30 reserves games for VFL club Richmond in 1984-85 but then returned to his home club Glenorchy before joining SANFL club Woodville in 1988. He won the best-and-fairest in Woodville’s final season.
Clayton Lamb
Guernsey number: 6.
Crows debut: Round 5 v West Coast, 1991.
AFC games: 1. AFC goals: 1.
Recruited from: Glenelg (SANFL).
DOB: July 1, 1964.
Lamb was a seasoned performer at SANFL level where the midfielder/ half-forward played 174 games for West Adelaide, 23 for Glenelg and three for South Australia before Adelaide arrived on the scene. He had kicked 49 goals in the 1990 season
Guernsey number: 13.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 86. AFC goals: 11.
Recruited from: Hawthorn/Central District (SANFL).
DOB: March 5, 1963.
Back pocket Lee played one pre-season game in three seasons at Hawthorn before moving to South Australia in 1985 to join Central District. He won the club’s best-and-fairest award in 1987 and 1990.
Guernsey number: 9.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 19. AFC goals: 28.
Recruited from: Geelong.
DOB: June 20, 1961.
Lindner played 56 SANFL games for West Adelaide, including the 1983 premiership win, before spending six seasons at Geelong for 66 VFL games and 139 goals. He was an All-Australian in 1987-88. He was the first interstate-based player signed for Adelaide’s inaugural squad.
Guernsey number: 32.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 6. AFC goals: 0.
Recruited from: West Torrens.
DOB: July 22, 1961.
Lindsay was first pursued by VFL clubs in the late 1970s, having made his SANFL debut for West Torrens aged 16 and his State debut against Victoria less than a year later. He signed with Collingwood after winning the Eagles’ 1979 best-and-fairest but a serious knee injury at the end of 1980 kept him out of the game for two years. Lindsay stayed with Torrens for the rest of the decade, captaining the club and State and playing 255 senior games.
Guernsey number: 27.
Crows debut: Round 9 v North Melbourne, 1991.
AFC games: 116. AFC goals: 128.
Recruited from: Glenelg (SANFL).
DOB: April 30, 1970.
After only one year in the SANFL with Glenelg (for 20 games), Liptak was one of the promising young South Australian footballers given the opportunity to join Adelaide’s inaugural squad.
Guernsey number: 16.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 26. AFC goals: 14.
Recruited from: Glenelg (SANFL).
DOB: June 30, 1968.
Marshall had already played 13 seasons of senior football when the Crows were formed. And he was 30 years, 265 days old when he made his AFL debut in the club’s first game against Hawthorn. Marshall made his SANFL league debut in 1978 and had played 323 games for the Tigers (including premierships in 1985-86) before joining the Crows’ inaugural squad. He won Glenelg’s best-and-fairest in 1990, when he finished joint runner-up for the Magarey Medal.
Guernsey number: 18.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 81. AFC goals: 24.
Recruited from: Norwood (SANFL).
DOB: September 21, 1966.
Recruited by Norwood from Lameroo North – where his family had a wheat and sheep property – he played 137 SANFL games for the Redlegs before the arrival of the Crows, topped the club’s goalkicking in 1988, and won the best-and-fairest in 1989.
Damien McCarthy
Original squad selection 1991
Did not play an AFL game
Recruited from: Woodville (SANFL)
DOB: June 14, 1971.
One of the ten development players, McCarthy was a ruckman who made his league debut with Woodville in 1990 and impressed representing the Eagles in a trial game versus the Crows early in 1991.
Guernsey number: 10.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 117 AFC goals: 25.
Recruited from: Glenelg (SANFL)
DOB: November 4, 1963
McDermott had all the credentials to be the inaugural captain of the Adelaide Football Club after a decade of success playing 274 games for Glenelg and South Australia. The Brighton High School product made his SANFL debut with Glenelg in 1981. He played in the 1985-86 premierships, won three consecutive best-and-fairest award in 1986-87-88 and made the All-Australian teams in 1986 and ’87.
Guernsey number: 11.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 113. AFC goals: 79.
Recruited from: Footscray
DOB: May 6, 1964
McGuinness made his SANFL league debut as a 17-year-old with Glenelg in 1981. In his second season he won the Magarey Medal and Glenelg’s best-and-fairest. The last of his 112 games for Glenelg in this period was the winning 1985 grand final under coach Graham Cornes. He then moved to VFL club Footscray, where he played 109 V/AFL games in five seasons and won a best-and-fairest in 1987. He also won All-Australian selection after the 1988 national carnival and was selected as rover in the 1990 AFL Team of the Year.
Guernsey number: 23.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 14. AFC goals: 19.
Recruited from: South Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: January 6, 1967.
McIntyre, recruited from country Victoria by South Adelaide in 1988, kicked four goals from full forward on AFL debut against Hawthorn.
Damien Mellow
Did not play an AFL game.
Recruited from: Norwood (SANFL).
DOB: September 13, 1973.
One of the young guns listed by the Crows, the Norwood junior had starred for South Australia at underage level. He made his Norwood debut early in 1991.
Mark Mickan
Guernsey number: 25
Crows debut: Round 4 v Essendon, 1991
AFC games: 37. AFC goals: 12.
Recruited from: Brisbane.
DOB: January 30, 1961.
Original squad concession selection 1991.
Originally from Renmark, Mickan was a late starter in the VFL/AFL despite winning three club best-and fairest awards at West Adelaide, including its 1983 premiership year when he missed the finals because of a knee injury. He was West’s skipper in 1986 and then joined new club Brisbane Bears in 1987 and was appointed as the team’s first captain. An All-Australian ruckman in 1988, Mickan was Brisbane’s leader for three years.
Guernsey number: 22
Crows debut: Round 2 v Carlton, 1991.
AFC games: 16. AFC goals: 41.
Recruited from: Glenelg (SANFL).
DOB: September 8, 1965.
Murphy was a strong key forward from Renmark who played three games for North Melbourne in 1988, returned to Glenelg, and then was added to the inaugural Crows list.
Guernsey number: 1
Club Debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 6. AFC goals: 0.
Recruited from: Woodville (SANFL).
DOB: September 30, 1964..
Recruited by Woodville from Tasmania in 1987, Negri captained the club in its last two seasons before the arrival of the Crows. He was the tallest player in the AFL in 1991, towering over all opponents at 204cm.
Guernsey number: 46
Crows debut: Round 19 v Richmond, 1991.
AFC games: 9. AFC goals: 2.
Recruited from: West Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: September 28, 1965.
Patterson was a strong, disciplined defender who played 94 SANFL games for West Adelaide before joining the Crows.
Guernsey number: 24
Crows debut: Round 19 v Essendon, 1991.
AFC games: 14. AFC goals: 2.
Recruited from: West Torrens (SANFL).
DOB: August 25, 1966.
Payze, runner-up in the 1986 Magarey Medal count to Greg Anderson, had long been a target for VFL clubs and was drafted by Essendon. The West Torrens wingman won his club’s best-and-fairest in 1986 and had played 159 games and three for South Australia.
Guernsey number: 15
Crows debut: Round 18 v Melbourne, 1992
AFC games: 131 AFC goals: 34.
Recruited from: Norwood (SANFL)
DOB: February 23, 1969
Ruckman Pittman joined Norwood from Prince Alfred College and had played 31 league games. Was drafted by Essendon in 1989.
Guernsey number: 52
Crows debut: Round 18 v Sydney, 1991.
AFC games: 134. AFC goals: 55.
Recruited from: West Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: January 29, 1981.
Rehn was only a few months out of country football when signed by the Crows as one of 10 young footballers on the club’s foundation list. From a wheat and sheep farm near Arno Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, the ruckman only played a few under-19 games for West Adelaide in 1989 and then two league matches late in 1990, when he won the Mail Medal in his country competition.
Jonathon Ross
Guernsey number: 39
Crows debut: Round 5 v Richmond, 1992.
AFC games: 20. AFC goals: 4.
Recruited from: Norwood (SANFL).
DOB: November 3, 1973.
A well-built, strong key position player, Ross had a rapid rise through the ranks at Norwood in 1990 when he also represented SA in the national Under 17s carnival. Made his league debut for Norwood in the 1991 pre-season competition.
Guernsey number: 45
Crows debut: Round 19 v Fitzroy, 1992.
AFC games: 21. AFC goals: 2.
Recruited from: Glenelg.
DOB: April 18, 1972.
Rouvray was picked by the Crows after an outstanding debut season with SANFL club Glenelg in 1990.
Guernsey number: 31
Crows debut: Round 3 v Sydney, 1991.
AFC games: 29. AFC goals: 24.
Recruited from: Norwood.
DOB: November 3, 1965.
Started his league career in WA with South Fremantle and then moved to Norwood, where he was a tough rover in 89 games. Won the club’s best-and-fairest in 1990.
Adam Saliba
Guernsey number: 37
Crows debut: Round 15 v Sydney, 1992.
AFC games: 3. AFC goals: 2.
Recruited from: North Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: July 14, 1972.
Saliba was an exceptionally talented junior from North Adelaide who stopped training with the Crows in the pre-season but was named on the list based on raw talent.
Guernsey number: 36.
Crows debut: Round 6 v Brisbane, 1992.
AFC games: 6. AFC goals: 4.
Recruited from: Sturt (SANFL).
DOB: February 27, 1974.
A star junior with Sturt, Sanderson made his senior debut in the SANFL pre-season competition in 1991, before he had turned 17.
Guernsey number: 40.
Crows debut: Round 5 v Richmond, 1992.
AFC games: 25. AFC goals: 4.
Recruited from: Central District.
DOB: May 5, 1968.
Drafted by West Coast in 1989, Schwerdt had played 89 league games for Central District before the arrival of the Crows.
Guernsey number: 7
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 278. AFC goals: 116.
Recruited from: South Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: May 21, 1969.
The athletic defender was a slow developer and kept a low profile during his first 50 league games with South before a break-out season in 1990, when he played State football and was rewarded with a spot on Adelaide’s inaugural list.
Guernsey number: 28.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 9. AFC goals: 10.
Recruited from: Port Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: February 9, 1965.
Smith was an experienced SANFL centre half-forward who had knocked back several VFL offers and was drafted by Essendon before signing with the Crows after 168 SANFL games for Port Adelaide and two for SA.
Grant Tanner
Original squad selection 1991
Did not play an AFL game for Adelaide
Recruited from: Norwood (SANFL)
DOB: July 24, 1970
A dashing wingman, Tanner had played 24 games for Norwood.
Sean Tasker
Guernsey number: 49
Crows debut: Round 15 v Collingwood, 1991.
AFC games: 48. AFC goals: 17.
Recruited from: North Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: June 18, 1968.
A premiership player with North Adelaide in 1987, Tasker had played 57 games for the Roosters.
Guernsey number: 41.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 5. AFC goals: 0.
Recruited from: Glenelg (SANFL).
DOB: October 22, 1967.
Thompson had played 59 games for Glenelg and was one of the Tigers’ best in their 1990 grand final loss.
Guernsey number: 12
Crow debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 106. AFC goals: 18.
Recruited from: Port Adelaide (SANFL)
DOB: March 9, 1971
Tregenza was the youngest Crow on the field when Adelaide played its first AFL game in March, 1991. But the 20-year-old wingman had already packed plenty into his brief SANFL career, winning two premierships with Port Adelaide, twice finishing runner-up in the Magarey Medal, and representing South Australia. Footscray drafted Tregenza but he didn’t move to Victoria.
Peter Turner
Guernsey number: 22.
Crows debut: Round 8 v Essendon, 1994.
AFC games: 3. AFC goals: 1.
Recruited from: North Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: January 23, 1974.
A highly-rated junior at North Adelaide, where he made his league debut aged 16 in the 1990 preliminary final, Turner was one of the youngest players on Adelaide’s original list.
Guernsey number: 44.
Crows debut: Round 1 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 2. AFC goals: 0.
Recruited from: Norwood (SANFL).
DOB: February 17, 1963.
Warhurst was a long-serving and reliable full back for his home club Norwood, where he played 231 SANFL games (and three State games) before signed by the Crows. He had been signed by Essendon in 1981 and drafted by Fitzroy three years later but opted to stay in the SANFL.
Guernsey number: 50.
Crows debut: Round 16 v Hawthorn, 1991.
AFC games: 68. AFC goals: 26.
Recruited from: West Torrens (SANFL).
DOB: October 21, 1966.
The rugged midfielder from Fish Creek tried out unsuccessfully with St Kilda and later Collingwood but spent 1990 in the SANFL after being recruited by West Torrens from Canberra.
