As the Crows prepare to kick off their 2013 NAB Cup campaign in ‘mini-matches’ against St Kilda and Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday, afc.com.au takes a statistical look at the Club’s involvement in the pre-season competition …
Two - The number of pre-season premierships in Adelaide’s trophy cabinet. The Crows are the reigning NAB Cup premiers, having defeated West Coast to claim their second pre-season title 2.10.17 (95) to 2.5.13 (61) in front of their home crowd. Adelaide’s first pre-season flag came under former coach Gary Ayres in 2003 when the Club knocked off Collingwood by 31 points - 2.13.8 (104) to 1.9.10 (73) - in front of 43,571 fans at Docklands.
Two – Uncapped Crows, Sam Shaw and Sam Kerridge, played in the pre-season premiership before making their AFL debut.
Three - Goals Taylor Walker kicked (including one nine-pointer) in the 34-point NAB Cup Grand Final win over West Coast last year.
Four - the name changes the AFL pre-season competition has undergone since Adelaide’s inception into the competition. Known as the NAB Cup since 2006, the pre-season comp was previously sponsored by Fosters (1990-1994), Ansett (1995-2001) and Wizard Home Loans (2002-2005)
Five - The nine-point goals kicked by former ‘super-boot’ Simon Goodwin in pre-season matches - ranked equal-third in AFL history.
Five - Teams Adelaide beat to win the 2012 NAB Cup. The Crows toppled Carlton and Port Adelaide in week one, the Brisbane Lions in Alice Springs in round two, Collingwood in round three and finally the Eagles to claim the Cup.
Six - The total number of pre-season Grand Finals the Crows have been involved in: against West Coast in 2012, St Kilda in 2008, Geelong in 2006, Collingwood in 2003, North Melbourne in 1995 and Essendon in 1994.
Nine - Pre-season premierships won by Hawthorn – the most of any club. Essendon (six) is the next-best performed pre-season team, while North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs have won five each. Fremantle, West Coast and the Brisbane Lions are the only teams never to have won a pre-season flag since the inception of the competition in 1956.
29 – Possessions Bernie Vince collected to claim the Michael Tuck Medal for best on ground in the Club’s NAB Cup Grand Final win over West Coast.
32 - The pre-season matches played by dual-premiership star Tyson Edwards - ranked 12th in the AFL of all-time. Former champions Mark Bickley and Andrew McLeod each played 31 pre-season games.
35 - Pre-season games assistant coach and former Geelong star Darren Milburn played during his career – ranked fifth of all time. Jon Blakey, who played 45 pre-season games for Fitzroy and North Melbourne, holds the record.
57 - The total number of official pre-season matches Adelaide has played for a record of 35 wins and 22 losses.
65 - Goals kicked by superstar forward Tony Modra in pre-season matches - ranked equal-fifth in VFL/AFL history.
183 - The Crows’ highest-ever score in a pre-season game - 27.21 (183) against North Melbourne in 1993.
