It was March 22, 1991, when South Australian football took a giant leap into a national competition on the back of the new Adelaide Football Club, hastily created and built over five hectic months.
The Crows, boasting only three players with VFL or AFL experience, were pitted against competition heavyweights Hawthorn, winners of four premierships from six grand finals in the previous seven seasons.
“Get some Hawk on your fork,” suggested the banner, raised to welcome the 20 Crows onto Football Park. In reality, outside expectations were low.
The landslide 86 point win, however, stunned the football world. Riding on a wave of emotion, Adelaide kicked the first five goals before Hawthorn scored and held a 26 point lead at the first break. By half-time Adelaide was 51 points ahead of the team that six months later would raise the premiership cup.
Hype about the Crows had increased over the pre-season and this win certainly added to the momentum.
The front page of The Advertiser was headlined ‘SWEET VICTORY!’ and the special souvenir coverage included another four broadsheet pages of articles, photos and analysis.
Reporter Leo Schlink wrote: “Adelaide’s magic Crows tasted sweet victory last night by humbling the mighty Hawthorn in their Australian Football League debut. In the bullpit that was Football Park, the Crows marked their entry into the highest competition in the land with a breathtaking performance that spellbound an ecstatic 44,902 crowd.”
Chief football writer Ashley Porter wrote: “South Australian sport bathed in its finest hour” after “inflicting one of Hawthorn’s most devastating losses in the modern era”. And Alan Shiell also was excited: “Give ’em a bonus. Give ’em badges of honor. Give ’em the Town Hall. Give ’em a Camry each. Give ’em anything. Inscribe their names on an honor roll and emboss them in bold gold. They were magnificent, bloody magnificent!”
The Sunday Mail wasn’t to be outdone, publishing an eight page souvenir edition.
Even the Victorian papers joined the applause. “Ready, set, Crow” was the front page headline of the Herald-Sun.
MARCH 22, 1991, SCOREBOARD
Adelaide 6.2 11.6 17.10 24.11 (155)
Hawthorn 2.0 3.3 6.8 9.15 (69)
Crows goals: Lindner, Klug, McIntyre 4, McGuinness 3, Maynard 3, Smith 2, Marshall, Hart, Jarman 1.
Crows best: Jarman, Smart, Marshall, Klug, Tregenza, Maynard, Lee.
Crowd: 44,902 at Football Park
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