South Australia was at fever pitch with the much anticipated AFL debut of the Adelaide Crows on March 22, 1991.
And at Football Park on that historic night there was a second group of athletes eager to be part of history and also make their debut in front of a huge crowd. Forget the footballs, this group of talented athletes was more at home with pom poms and the splits.
Rebecca McRae (now Emery) was one of the original members of the Adelaide Crows’ dance troupe who performed on Football Park that night, adding to the excitement and glamour of the event.
Rebecca recalls the night as though it was yesterday.
“I just remember the excitement and nerves,” Rebecca said. “There was so much hype and South Australia was abuzz, waiting for that first bounce.
“It was very special to be part of. Fortunately we performed really well that night and all our choreography and training paid off.”
Rebecca, then aged 18, had grown up immersed in the calisthenics scene and was based at the Marden calisthenics club.
A talented netballer and hockey player, Rebecca heard her fellow calisthenics friends talking about Crows cheerleader trials and thought it would be “cool” to be involved. She had four brothers who all played football and she followed Sturt in the SANFL, so to Rebecca it was a great way to be part of the exciting new era in SA footy.
The try-outs were held at Underdale College where 16 talented dancers were chosen from more than 50 girls who were put through their paces.
The young dancers performed a learned audition piece, a one minute routine and kick lines in front of a panel of judges including choreographer Vanessa Marchioro.
Rebecca remembers how intense the auditions were, with each girl desperate to be a part of the hottest dance team in town.
For Rebecca it was also a means to an income while she was studying a Bachelor of Business majoring in tourism at the University of South Australia.
“I think we got around $60 per home game which was pretty good back then,” Rebecca said.
Rebecca was a member of the Crows dance troupe until 1999 when her work commitments forced her to retire.
“I was working fulltime and it was too hard to commit to the training sessions at night,” Rebecca said.
“I also think I may have been getting too old to don a leotard every weekend!”
Rebecca remembers their disappointment that the AFL did not allow them to dance at either the 1997 or 1998 AFL Grand Finals.
“I remember the Club trying to get approval for us but it was declined,” Rebecca said. “I think it was to do with the opposition not having cheerleaders.
“It was a unique feature of the Adelaide Crows. We got tickets from the club though and all sat together at the MCG behind the goals at the end that Jarman put on that last quarter performance, so that was pretty special.
“And the street parade back in Adelaide the following week was one of the highlights of my entire dancing career. That was amazing – just amazing.
“I was so proud of our State and our football Club – we had arrived on the national stage”.
Asked who her favourite player was during her days with the Crows, Rebecca like so many others says Andrew McLeod was the stand-out to her.
“I always liked everything he stood for,” she said. “He was so down to earth, still is. So grounded, so gifted as both a player and a human being.”
Rebecca married her long-time partner Mike Emery in 2002 and has two young children Jett (8) and Zara (5).
It was while she was a new mum that she heard the Crows cheerleaders had disbanded.
“I was really disappointed at the time,” Rebecca said. “It had been such a huge part of my life and to hear that it was no longer was sad."
“I formed life-long friends through my Crows dancing days and we share so many memories.”
Rebecca, now based in Wellington in New Zealand with her family, recalls with horror the day a serious wardrobe malfunction caused enormous embarrassment to one of her friends and fellow dancers on Football Park in front of a packed members area.
“Let’s just say it was before the days of magic tape and a halter neck leotard fell down,” Rebecca said.
“There was a mad scramble to hide her while we fixed it up and always the professionals we carried on.”
Many of the girls still get together regularly and in fact a group of them are off to Bali in September to celebrate “a few 40th birthdays”.
And after a few drinks the “halter neck” debacle does come up.
Rebecca won’t be at the final home match at Football Park. But like so many involved with the Crows over the journey at Football Park she has memories to cherish from a very special era in SA football history.
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