From Port Pirie, where he played for Solomontown, Bickley appeared in some SANFL trials with North Adelaide early in 1988 but was not invited to stay and headed back home, where he played in a senior premiership and won the Association best-and-fairest medal.
He later returned to the city, this time moving to South Adelaide where he played 53 games in 1989 and 1990. Small but strong (178cm and 82kg), Bickley played much of his early career at half back before evolving into a midfielder.
He was one of the Adelaide’s most consistent performers and although he did not win a best-and-fairest, he was runner-up in 1993, third in 1992 and in the top ten in 11 of his 13 seasons. Even in his final season (2003) he remained a force, finishing fourth. Bickley also was a three-time Best Team Man winner (1992, 1993 and 2000).
After four seasons and 102 games as captain, Bickley passed on the leadership baton to Mark Ricciuto in 2001 but continued to play and contribute until beyond his 34th birthday. He retired with 272 AFL games to his name.
Bickley soon became heavily involved in the media, working in radio and television. However, at the end of 2008 he accepted an offer to return to the Crows as an assistant coach. He was caretaker coach for the last six games of 2011 after the resignation of Neil Craig and remained at the Club as an assistant coach for the 2012 season when Brenton Sanderson was appointed coach.
Bickley was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
Mark Bickley at the Crows
Guernsey number: 26.
Crows debut: Round 4 v Essendon, 1991.
AFC games: 272. AFC goals: 77.
Recruited from: South Adelaide (SANFL).
Original squad selection 1991.
DOB: August 4, 1969.
He said: “To win the ultimate prize once and then immediately back it up is unquestionably the highlight.”
Random info:
• He was the first Crows player to reach 200 AFL games
• His career-best disposal tally was 44 in 1993, against Footscray, but he
didn’t poll a Brownlow vote
• Bickley played for Australia in an International Rules Test against Ireland
after his retirement
Crows Career
Year | Games |
1991 | 18 |
1992 | 22 |
1993 | 23 |
1994 | 11 |
1995 | 22 |
1996 | 22 |
1997 | 26 |
1998 | 23 |
1999 | 18 |
2000 | 20 |
2001 | 23 |
2002 | 20 |
2003 | 24 |
