A young Crow by the name of Andrew McLeod established himself as a future star of the competition on this day 22 years ago.
An 18-year-old McLeod lined up for just his second AFL game to confront Hawthorn at Football Park in Round Nine, 1995 after being dropped from the senior side three weeks earlier.
Adelaide managed just one goal to half-time against the hardened Hawks in wet conditions and trailed by 34 points at the major break.
Hawthorn’s inaccuracy kept the Crows in the contest as the home side somehow managed to cut the deficit to just three points by the final change.
The match remained in the balance with Adelaide behind by four points with barely a minute remaining in the contest.
Adelaide needed a miracle. Enter McLeod.
The ball made its way into Adelaide’s forward line following a Nick Pesch clearance and the race was on between McLeod and Hawks opponent Ray Jencke.
McLeod showcased his speed and class in an incredible match-winning move. He burst past his opponent and controlled the heavy Sherrin on the deck with a series of deft taps.
After some clever footwork, McLeod then turned Jencke inside out and dribbled the ball through the goal from a tight angle to put Adelaide in front.
The Crows held on for a memorable two-point victory courtesy of McLeod’s heroics.
Little did Malcolm Blight know, who was commentating the game, that he’d just had a first-hand look at a player that would be an instrumental part of his success as Adelaide’s premiership coach just two years later.
McLeod would go on to win two Norm Smith Medals and claim two premierships among a long list of achievements as part of a glittering 340-game AFL career.
Round Nine, 1995
ADELAIDE 0.1 1.1 6.6 9.6 (60)
HAWTHORN 3.3 5.11 5.15 7.16 (58)
BEST: A. Jarman, Bickley, McLeod, Tregenza, McDermott, Hart, Connell.
GOALS: Hart 2, Tregenza 2, McLeod 2, Modra, McCartney, Pesch
ATTENDANCE: 38,746 at Football Park
