February 23, 1991: Adelaide’s first interstate game resulted in a 63 point loss to West Coast in a trial match in humid Bunbury.

The Crows were missing first choice players including Tony McGuiness, Andrew Jarman, Daryl Hart, Tom Warhurst and Eddie Hocking, but benefited from the experience of a team weekend away.

After the three-hour flight to Perth, the team had a three hour bus ride to and from Bunbury, travelling through bushfire affected areas.

Played in hot and sticky conditions, the Crows lost their first match 24.16 (160) to 14.13 (97), but as Chris McDermott spoke about after the match, the drama-packed trip promoted a strong sense of team spirit.

“While it’s disappointing to lose, the main thing from the weekend was spending time with blokes,” McDermott said.

“We’re still getting to know each other. We’d have liked to have performed better, but to get everybody together and increase the mateship was fantastic - it’s got to help the team.

“During the past month, since the games have started, the spirit among everyone at the club has been incredible, and it will get better as time goes on.

“The early couple of wins steamrolled it and even this loss will help. It brings us back to earth.”

“We can’t sit back; the hard work has just started.”

The Advertiser reported that Stephen Schwerdt suffered a broken jaw during the Bunbury trial and Trevor Clisby ruptured a shoulder ligament, with both players to miss four weeks.

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.