Nearly 30 years after the Adelaide Crows’ first match, inaugural coach Graham Cornes still has fond memories of the victory.

Facing Hawthorn at Football Park in 1991, Adelaide marched to an 86-point victory in front of 44,902 fans.

This week, on the Optus Crows Show, Cornes reflects on the Club’s journey in the early 90’s.

“There was no doubt in those early years the Adelaide Crows were representing SA football,” Cornes said.

“We weren’t a state side, but representing SA footy… the whole state was watching (us).

“It definitely felt like us against the rest and was definitely us against Victoria.

 In the one-on-one interview with the Optus Crows Show, Cornes explained how the State of Origin matches in the 1980s built the state rivalry.

“We’d had such good success against the Victorians,” he said.

“Those State of Origin games at Footy Park were a celebration of South Australian footy.

“The crowds got into it, the “kick a Vic” sign… I never felt it got nasty but the Victorians felt it did.”

Something else stuck in Cornes’ memory, particularly from the game against the Hawks.

“I remember how beautiful the night was,” Cornes said..

“The moon came out in the eastern sky and bathed the stadium.”

Also on the Optus Crows Show this week, listen in on Matthew Nicks as he’s mic’d up for a training session and take a trip to the Gynburra Festival with Wayne Milera.

The Optus Crows Show will air on Channel 7 in South Australia on Saturday at 11am.