South Australia’s two AFL clubs have agreed to award retrospective best-on-ground medals for the first six Showdowns.

Twenty-five years after a medal for the player judged best afield was first presented at Showdown VII in 2000, another group of Crows and Port Adelaide players will be officially recognised for earlier performances.

Voting panels jointly chosen by the clubs will review each of the first six Showdowns, starting from the 1997 season.

Adelaide and Port won three of these games each in this period, establishing an exciting new rivalry in South Australian football.

The retrospective medal winners will be revealed in the week of Showdown 57, to be played at Adelaide Oval on May 10.

Crows CEO Tim Silvers said the Showdown had a rich and colourful history and the on-field rivalry between the clubs was widely viewed as the fiercest in the game.

“It makes sense that we recognise those players from the early days who played such an important role in establishing the Showdown as the sporting spectacle it is today,” Silvers said.

“Importantly, the on-field rivalry we share with Port Adelaide is underpinned by a healthy respect and understanding, and there’s a shared commitment to make sure we recognise all that is great about this game.

“Our club is continually looking for ways to honour and celebrate our heritage and connect with our past, and credit to our History and Tradition Committee for driving these initiatives.”

Port Adelaide CEO Matthew Richardson said awarding retrospective Showdown medals was another significant moment in the history of one of the great football rivalries.

“Every Showdown has a unique story and within those stories are the heroes who were considered matchwinners in those games and helped shape the great memories we all have,  and ultimately the rivalry we have today.

“Since 2000 those matchwinners were etched into Showdown folklore as recipients of the Showdown Medal.

“It is significant now that both clubs have come together to officially recognize the best-on-ground performances from the six Showdowns played from the start of 1997 to the end of 1999, performances that were previously not acknowledged as they have since 2000 with the honour of the Showdown Medal.

“Our game is underpinned by the on-field heroes, and we look forward to formally recognizing and celebrating the individual performances in the Showdowns played across those first three seasons.”

Adelaide’s Mark Ricciuto won the first Showdown medal in 2000, as voted by a selection of media representatives.

Port Adelaide’s Robbie Gray holds the record for the most medal wins (five).