A Saturday night at Football Park was the scene for the debut of Crows legend Tyson Edwards on this day 21 years ago.
The final result was a 34-point win Adelaide over Footscray and Edwards was introduced to the world of AFL with a 15-possession effort playing as a defender.
Whilst still holding down a day job, Edwards went on to play 12 games in his first AFL season and didn’t miss a game after his Round 11 debut.
321 AFL games and two premierships later, ‘Zooma’ is fondly remembered as a Club legend and one of the most consistent Crows of all time.
His efforts were recognised in 2014 when, along with another former superstar Crow in Tony Modra, Edwards was inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame.
After making his senior debut for West Adelaide during the 1994 SANFL season, Edwards was invited to train with the Crows prior to the commencement of the 1995 AFL season.
Liking what they saw, Adelaide selected Edwards at pick No.21 in the 1995 Pre-Season Draft, a decision that would pay dividends over the course of a remarkable 16-season career.
A reserved and composed character on and off the field, Edwards grew in confidence through his first few years at West Lakes before the arrival of Malcolm Blight ahead of the famous 1997 season.
Under Blight, Edwards found his feet playing primarily in the midfield and as a small forward, establishing himself and one of the most consistent – yet underrated – players in the AFL.
His debut may have been low-key and without fanfare, such was the nature of the man who would go on to notch the second-most games of any Crow in the AFL, behind only Andrew McLeod.
And it all began on this day 21 years ago against the Bulldogs at Football Park.
Saturday, June 10, 1995
ADELAIDE 4.6 6.10 8.15 12.18 (90)
FOOTSCRAY 1.1 2.7 3.8 6.10 (56)
GOALS
Adelaide: Chalmers 3, McLeod 2, Pittman 2, Tasker 2, Connell, McCartney, Ricciuto
Footscray: Hargraves 2, Cameron, Grgic, Osborne, West
BEST
Adelaide: Anderson, Pittman, Connell, Hart, Tregenza
Footscray: Smith, Cameron, West, Beveridge
Umpires: McKernan, McLaren, Vernon
Official crowd: 36,955 at Football Park
Tyson Edwards: 15 disposals, two tackles, one mark
Tyson Edwards was one of Adelaide's most consistent and respected performers
