Exactly 20 years on from when the Crows triumphantly burst onto the AFL scene, the new age Crows took to Football Park in honour of their inaugural side. 

Facing the same opposition it bested by 86 points on that famous night in 1991, Adelaide came into the clash 20 years later as underdogs against a star-studded Hawthorn side. 

Similarly to that first game, the Crows banded together and produced a performance for the ages, overcoming a 19-point deficit at half time to come away with a 20-point victory.

Leading the way was a 24-year-old Nathan van Berlo, who took the reins as Captain prior to the 2011 season, with that night signifying the start of his era as the Crows’ leader.

However, it was the words of Adelaide’s first skipper Chris McDermott that resonated most with van Berlo and his teammates, as he invited the Club Champion into the rooms pre-game to deliver a rousing pre-game speech. 

“The biggest thing that stands out to me from the night was Chris McDermott coming into the rooms and speaking really passionately to the boys pre-game about what the Club has meant to him and how he wanted us to represent it on such a big occasion,” van Berlo told AFC Media.

“It was the kind of speech that gives you goosebumps to be honest, I remember the boys were in such a great headspace heading out onto the ground, the tone was set very early on by Bone. 

“I thought to myself I don’t really need to say much here, which took the nerves off a bit being my first game as captain. 

“To be able to go out on the field and represent our past players the way we did that night, it filled us with such pride, and made a night I will never forget.” 

Channeling that inaugural side was the theme of the week for the Crows’ leading up to the 20-year anniversary. 

Van Berlo detailed the “history lesson” the side undertook and the inspiration they took from those that came before them. 

“We really tried to channel that inaugural Crows team in the build up to the game, and gave ourselves a bit of a history lesson in the week leading up,” van Berlo said.

“We looked at how that team in 1991 came together so quickly and produced such a strong result in that first game, and how we 20 years later could replicate that. 

“There was definitely some more emotion and attachment for us, and having the commemorative guernseys on that had the names of that inaugural team on it, the magnitude of the occasion certainly wasn't lost on us. 

“Our sole focus that night was to make the past players, the supporters and the whole Club proud.” 

Although the focus of the night was celebrating the past, it also served as a new era launching point for the Crows. 

Preparing to lead the Club as its official Captain for the first-time, van Berlo detailed his emotions leading into the match.

“There was a mixture of excitement and nerves for me leading into that game, and taking on the captaincy in general,” van Berlo said. 

“I was only 24 at the time, so I was still pretty young, but I had great support around me in guys like Scott Stevens, Ben Rutten, Scott Thompson and Brent Reilly who all backed me in to do the job. 

“2011 and the beginning of my captaincy was a changing of the guard for us as a footy club, and that era began by celebrating our 20-year anniversary against the Hawks. 

“I remember thinking to myself after the game, we couldn’t have started our new journey any better.” 

The scenes post-game encapsulated the theme of the night, as the young Crows were able to share the victory with members of the inaugural team that inspired them. 

“The atmosphere when the siren went was electric, the crowd really turned out for us, and we were all thrilled to be able to get that win for our past players,” van Berlo said. 

“I remember after the game, going into the rooms and seeing a lot of players from that 1991 team, and it was great to share our victory with them and chat about everything from footy to general life. 

“The camaraderie of our club was on show that night, and it was one of those matches I will never forget.”