Adelaide and Essendon’s two-point thriller in 1998 remains the closest result between the pair to date - and perhaps one of the more important wins of the Crows' second premiership season.
The Crows entered the Round 12 clash in 10th place on the ladder and, despite being defending premiers, were in need of a lifeline against an in-form Essendon side.
Saturday, June 13, brought slippery conditions and a compelling shoot-out that saw Adelaide just hold on to a two-point victory - 15.18 (108) to 15.16 (106).
Neither side ever truly had control with the Bombers narrowly in front during the opening half before Adelaide claimed a seven-point lead heading into the fourth term.
Playing as a ruck-rover, Matthew Robran enjoyed a solid game with 23 touches, three goals and 13 hit-outs.
He also lined up against one of the game’s all-time greats in James Hird.
“I enjoyed the game a lot after Blighty put me on as the ruck-rover behind Shaun Rehn in ruck,” Robran said.
“I ended up lining up against James Hird in the second-half, kicked a couple of goals and had a terrific experience playing on the quality of someone like him.
“We certainly had a good battle, Hird had a fair number of possessions but it wasn’t like one of us dominated the other, it was just a good, honest battle for the footy.
“Competing for the ball, his second efforts were second-to-none.”
Ahead of the game, many pundits backed the Bombers, who had the likes of Hird, Norm Smith Medalist Michael Long and an exciting 20-year-old forward Matthew Lloyd.
Adelaide, meanwhile, held a 5-6 win-loss record and even Robran admitted that game - and season - was a challenge.
“Similar to 1997, we didn’t have a dominant year and by no stretch of the imagination were we the dominant side,” Robran said.
“It was a tight game all the way through, one or two goals separated us in some dewy, slippery conditions.
“For our young side it was a really important win and no doubt that was the catalyst for an improved second-half of the year.”
Undeniably the biggest absence of the game for Adelaide was Andrew McLeod, the soon-to-be two-time Norm Smith Medalist.
A seven-point lead was threatened by the Bombers and as both sides combined for 5.13 in the fourth term, the result could have gone either way.
Yet on the back of 30 possessions from Brett James, a dominant defensive outing from Ben Hart on Lloyd, and three goals to Peter Vardy, the Crows reigned despite a tense final term.
“We certainly had a few unsung heroes,” Robran said.
“Sudjai Cook was high up in the possession count and Brett James had a beauty of a game.
“He wasn’t the biggest name but the slippery conditions suited him as a tough, inside midfielder and he was able to get the ball out to our running players.
“He probably had twice as many handballs to kicks and I always remember Malcolm Blight getting on his case to just get the ball on his boot and kick it.”
Adelaide and Essendon will meet for the 39th time this Friday night at Adelaide Oval with the ledger currently even at 19-all.
