Adelaide’s inaugural 1991 squad, finalised just a fortnight before the Club’s first game for premiership points, holds an important place in our history.

Recruited from the ten SANFL clubs or enticed home to South Australia from interstate clubs, the 52 players were pulled together over the summer of 1990-91 as the Adelaide Football Club prepared for its entry to the national competition.
This is the sixth of a series to recognise the players’ role in the first year of the Adelaide Football Club.

David Pittman
Guernsey number: 15.
Crows debut: Round 18 v Melbourne, 1992
AFC games: 131 AFC goals: 34.
Recruited from: Norwood (SANFL)
DOB: February 23, 1969
Original squad selection 1991.

A ruckman from Norwood, Pittman took some time to push through into AFL ranks after winning spot on Adelaide’s inaugural list. He was 23 when he played his first and only game in 1992 but for the next seven seasons he was a regular with the Crows, mainly in the ruck or defence. Pittman joined Norwood from Prince Alfred College and had his early progress stalled by a serious knee injury. But he always showed promise and the Crows were patient with the big man, who spent his first couple of full seasons supporting Shaun Rehn. When Rehn went down with a knee injury early in the 1995 season, much of the ruck responsibilities fell on Pittman and he responded in style. Rarely seen or heard in the media, Pittman obtained an economics degree at Flinders University and combined his football with working at a stockbroking firm. But Pittman hit the headlines early in 1997 when coach Malcolm Blight publicly criticised his performance after a game at the MCG. However, after two weeks out of the team he returned and stayed there until the grand final, when he played at centre half-back against Stewart Loewe. Pittman also played most of the 1998 season and collected another premiership medal. But the following year he struggled with injuries and he surprised by retiring after injuring a knee with two rounds to play in 1999. He later spent some time at Port Adelaide as a ruck coach and has also worked on radio.

Shaun Rehn
Guernsey number: 52.
Crows debut: Round 18 v Sydney, 1991.
AFC games: 134. AFC goals: 55.
Recruited from: West Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: January 29, 1981.
Original squad selection 1991.
Three knee reconstructions in a decade with Adelaide did not stop Shaun Rehn from being one of the most influential ruckmen of his era. At 203cm, Rehn combined a powerful presence in the centre square and at stoppages with marking strength, courage and astonishing skill.
Rehn was only a few months out of country football when signed by the Crows as one of 10 young footballers on the club’s 52-man foundation list in 1991. From a wheat and sheep farm near Arno Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, he had only played a few under-19 games for West Adelaide in 1989 and then two league matches late in 1990, when he won the Mail Medal in his country competition. He played six AFL games in 1991 and confirmed his standing as one of the club’s great finds when he was best afield in the last game against North Melbourne, collecting 24 possessions and 20 hit-outs. His rapid development continued and in 1994 he was named an All Australian and won the Crows’ club champion award. But in round three of 1995 he suffered a torn anterior cruciate and needed a reconstruction. Then, three games into the 1996 season, the right knee again buckled and he was out for another season. His courage and commitment to returning to the game was rewarded with two premiership medals in 1997-98. Rehn took some time to regain top form in his first season back but he lifted for the grand final (when he discarded his knee brace) and by 1998 he was again a star, earning All Australian selection and polling 22 votes in the Brownlow Medal to finish fourth. He endured a third knee reconstruction, this time on his left knee, before the start of the 1999 season but again returned the following year to play the last 16 of his 134 games for the Crows. Rehn then made the decision to leave Adelaide, citing the need to rejuvenate his desire and passion to play football. He was traded to Hawthorn, where he added 33 games over the final two seasons of his AFL career. Rehn was appointed coach at West Adelaide in 2003 and led the side to a losing grand final in his first season. Then in 2006-07 he was an assistant coach with the Brisbane Lions.

Jonathon Ross
Guernsey number: 39.
Crows debut: Round 5 v Richmond, 1992.
AFC games: 20. AFC goals: 4.
Recruited from: Norwood (SANFL).
DOB: November 3, 1973.
Original squad selection 1991.
A well-built, strong key position player, Jonathon Ross had the potential to go far. However, his career was hampered by knee injuries and off-field drama and after playing 12 games in his debut season (1992) he managed just eight more games in the next four years. Was offered a chance at Collingwood but lost his place for disciplinary reasons.

Paul Rouvray
Guernsey number: 45.
Crows debut: Round 19 v Fitzroy, 1992.
AFC games: 21. AFC goals: 2.
Recruited from: Glenelg.
DOB: April 18, 1972.
Original squad selection 1991.
Rouvray, picked by the Crows after an outstanding debut season with SANFL club Glenelg, had three seasons at the club, playing in defence or on a wing. He was a regular “fill-in” player, often used to plug gaps in a side with injuries. Rouvray was traded to Sydney as part of the complicated Darren Jarman deal but did not play a game for the Swans.

Stephen Rowe
Guernsey number: 31, 3.
Crows debut: Round 3 v Sydney, 1991.
AFC games: 29. AFC goals: 24.
Recruited from: Norwood.
DOB: November 3, 1965.
Original squad selection 1991.
Started his league career in WA with South Fremantle and then moved to Norwood, where he was a tough ball-getting rover in 89 games. Rowe was one of the characters in the Crows’ first squad. Always enthusiastic, he played his games across five seasons and missed the 1994 season because of a knee reconstruction. Rowe finished his playing career at Norwood and was part of the club’s 1997 premiership. He is now a well-known media personality with FiveAA.

Adam Saliba
Guernsey number: 37.
Crows debut: Round 15 v Sydney, 1992.
AFC games: 3. AFC goals: 2.
Recruited from: North Adelaide (SANFL).
DOB: July 14, 1972.
Original squad selection 1991.
Saliba was an exceptionally talented footballer from North Adelaide and in his AFL debut rated highly with 26 possessions. However, he only played two more games.

Brenton Sanderson
Guernsey number: 36.
Crows debut: Round 6 v Brisbane, 1992.
AFC games: 6. AFC goals: 4.
Recruited from: Sturt (SANFL).
DOB: February 27, 1974.
Original squad selection 1991.
A star junior footballer with Sturt, Sanderson’s career took some time to get going. He played just six games for the Crows in 1992-93 and then spent a year with Collingwood, playing four games. But it was at Geelong where he eventually found success after being dropped for the 1995 grand final. He became a regular half back and his 199-game career with the Cats was highlighted by winning the 2001 club best and fairest.

Stephen Schwerdt
Guernsey number: 40.
Crows debut: Round 5 v Richmond, 1992.
AFC games: 25. AFC goals: 4.
Recruited from: Central District.
DOB: May 5, 1968.
Original squad selection 1991.
Playing mostly on a wing or a half-back flank, Schwerdt was a determined and fit left-footer who always gave his best. Drafted by West Coast in 1989, Schwerdt had a terrible run with injuries, including two broken jaws, in his first year on the Crows’ list. Was a fringe player from 1992-94. After playing out his career back in the SANFL with Central District, Schwerdt became the Crows’ Fitness Coach in 1999 and he is now Physical Performance Manager.