The Adelaide Crows continued to dominate the media in late January of 1991 as the countdown to the first official trial game approached.

News of Adelaide’s big sponsorship deal with the Toyota Motor Corporation leaked out on January 22 but the Club kept quiet on an official front.

The signing of full forward Scott Hodges was the big story on January 23. The 1990 Magarey Medallist walked out on the Crows in November after contract discussions fell through and returned to train with his SANFL club Port Adelaide.

But a week away from the trial game against Essendon Hodges agreed to a deal and on January 25 he lined up in the last of Adelaide’s intra-club trials.

This year the Adelaide Football Club celebrates the 20th anniversary of its first AFL game for premiership points when it plays Hawthorn in the opening round - two decades after the Crows thumped Hawthorn by 86 points at Football Park.

For the next few months www.afc.com.au will run a regular feature highlighting the main footy news events from 20 years ago.

Next: Adelaide takes on Essendon.