Former Crows captain Tony McGuinness has named the 1991 pre-season clash with Essendon and the Club’s first game as his fondest football memories.

McGuinness joined the Crows ahead of the inaugural season following five seasons with Footscray and was Adelaide’s captain in the 1995 and 1996 seasons.

Speaking to The Optus Crows Show, McGuinness said those two matches proved the Crows would become a force in the AFL.

“The first trial game that we ever played, which was the middle of February of 1991, nobody knew how many people would turn up,” McGuinness said.

“I think 45,000 people watched a trial game against the Bombers in the middle of February.

“That was probably a surprise to everyone but also an alert that the Club was here to stay and that we were going to be powerful.

“That flowed through to the first game (against Hawthorn), where the atmosphere was just electric.”

Looking back, the original Crows No.11 said it justified decisions for himself and the Club.

“From a personal point of view, that vindicated my decision to come home from Melbourne,” he said.

“And from the Club’s point of view, that vindicated they had the right to be in the AFL.

“Those two games are my fondest memories.”