Showdown II
Round 19, 1997
Football Park
Adelaide 9.11 (65) d Port Adelaide 9.4 (58)

After losing the first-ever Showdown to AFL newcomers Port Adelaide earlier in the 1997 season, the Crows appeared destined for another humbling defeat in Showdown II.

Adelaide failed to kick a goal in the first term as the Power, with the aid of a strong breeze, kicked away to a 30-point lead at quarter time. Club great Matthew Robran recalls his team’s shocking start.

“We were very keen to atone for the first Showdown loss. I think a lot of people expected us to be victorious in the very first Showdown, but Port came out and played a pretty decent game of footy to knock us off. We wanted to square the ledger, but we didn’t get off to a good start,” Robran said.

“It was a horrible day. It was very wet and there was a really strong northerly blowing. You don’t often get a northerly down here at AAMI Stadium, but it was quite strong and it was probably worth four or five goals.”

The Crows mounted a comeback in the second quarter, but Port still held a four-goal lead going into the final quarter. It took a few individual efforts to help drag Adelaide back into the game.

“I remember ‘Jars’ (Darren Jarman) evaded a few players outside 50m and, with the wind, his kick ended up going about 60 metres,” he said.

“Most people who remember the game would remember Troy Bond’s kick to put us in front. He snuck out the back of the pack and got on the end of a kick from Clay Sampson. ‘Bondy ‘was standing his brother, Shane, at the time, so he had a bit more emotion in his body. He took the mark and the cameras caught him with the biggest smile on his face as he held the ball up. He still hadn’t kicked the goal, so there was a bit of pressure on him but he went back and put it through.”

“Peter Vardy kicked one from the pocket to seal the game, which was a great kick from in front of the old scoreboard at AAMI.”

Vardy’s set shot from the boundary line delivered the Crows a stirring seven-point win.

“Everyone was ecstatic. It was just such a hard-fought game like all Showdowns are. It was a bit of relief as well. I don’t think we would’ve been too impressed losing both Showdowns that year,” Robran said.

“It was also the fact that we were leading into finals and trying to cement our spot in the eight. It was important for us to win the game and keep the winning momentum going.”

A mere seven weeks later, the Adelaide players were on the game’s biggest stage holding aloft the premiership cup.