Brief History of Adelaide Football Club
With the motto ‘Born to Great Things', Adelaide Football Club is commonly known as The Crows. The club was formed way back in 1990 as a composite team of South Australian National Football League (SANFL), and is based in Adelaide, South Australia. Now the club is playing in the Australian Football League. The club started playing from 1991 season. It is the only club that appeared in the 11 final series in the history of its 21 years age. Besides, The Crows had won the Grand Final of 1997 and 1998 continuously.
The birth history of The Crows is the most interesting event. The VFL (Victorian Football League) was interested about involving the South Australian team, as some other teams joined from New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. However, a complexity occurred when the SANFL went against a South Australian team in 1980 for the terms they (the SA team) offered.
The transformation of VFL into AFL (Australian Football League) resolved the issue in 1990. Nine SANFL clubs rejected the offer of the port Adelaide Football Club to enter into the season. Even the club was sued to prevent participating at the AFL. Later the dispute was settled since the offers were more favourable to the existing teams. At last, on September 19, 1990, the AFL approved the club to participate in the league.
Early Years
In the years 1991 and 1992, The Crows placed 9th, and began their superb action in the 1993 season. At their home ground The Crows were invincible at all the times. Most the games attracted the spectator s that all sometimes the grounds failed to accommodate the viewers. The Crows took the mark of the year for the terrific sporting of the players. The Crows finished the season obtaining the fifth position.
Following the failure of the previous year, The Crows tried their best to improve their performance in the season 1994. They participated in the pre-season competitions to gear up their existing performances.
The years of 1997 and 1998 were premiership years for The Crows. The club finished in the position fourth in 1997 after the guidance of Malcolm Blight, another former football star. The Crows claimed the first premiership after winning four consecutive finals. The club defeated the West Coast Eagles, on the first Final at Football Park, and then moved for Geelong ahead of overcoming the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda. The Preliminary Final against the Western Bulldogs was probably the greatest game ever in the history of The Crows. The club lost Tony Modra, the best striker for the club, by an injury.
Further in 1998, the club was put up in fifth position on the cycle. They won in 13 matches and lost in nine in home and away season.
Transformation
The Crows was honoured with the so called "premiership hangover" for several injuries in the year 1999. The year ended with several misfortunes and the club started rebuilding themselves a Premiership contestant. Gary Ayres took over the charge of coaching the club from Malcolm Blight in the year 2000. The Crows, however, recovered the loss of the season in Round 6. In the year 2001 they lost first three games. One of the best players for the club Darren Jarman retired from the club.
The Crows reached in the fourth place of the premiership in 2002. Unfortunately they were defeated in a Qualifying final by Brisbane. The club regained the repute in some other matches and became the favourite for the AFL premiership in 2003. But several injuries prevented the club to become the top favourite and it became the sixth in position. The year 2003 was a year of melancholy for the team and its fans due to several problems.
The team went under hard struggle in the year 2004. They lost in the first four games of the season. Another striker of the team, Wayne Carey, got a neck injury. The Crows passed the season vigorously due to regrouping. The won three among the last five games of the season.
The year 2005 was a prospective one for the club. They finished the year with 17-5 ratio. Moreover, the club won the minor premiership-McClelland Trophy.
The members of Adelaide Crows made milestones in the year 2006. Ben Hart recorded as the player of 300 matches, Andrew McLeod played his 250th match, and Mark Ricciuto observed the 300th matches. The Crows mount on the top of the AFL steps with an amazing record of 14-2 (win and loss). It was the best performance in of the team since its inception in 1991.
In the beginning of the season 2007, The Crows lost the first game at home, but had won the next three games. In the last home game of Mark before retirement, the ground was filled with around 46,500 crowds. The team was qualified at the final for the sixth time in seven years.
In the year 2008, several stars form the team retired. Some younger players appeared in the lead role. But recurrences of injuries lead the club in the ninth position of the premiership chart. In the middle of the year the team brought it on the fourth position, but later was placed in five for the shocking victory of St Kilda.
In the year 2009, some other players were delisted. And some young players were picked to fill the gaps. The Crows could not gain the fourth position and culminated the season in fifth.
Beginning of the year 2010 was not an achievable one for them. The record become 0-6 (win –loss) for them in the first six rounds. This happen mainly for the injuries and debut of around six players. In the middle of the season, The Crows won four consecutive matches.
The year 2011 was typical season for The Crows. They beat Hawthorn in the first round and lost three following matches. Coach Neil Craig stepped down from the post for the defeat by St Kilda (103 points).
The birth history of The Crows is the most interesting event. The VFL (Victorian Football League) was interested about involving the South Australian team, as some other teams joined from New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. However, a complexity occurred when the SANFL went against a South Australian team in 1980 for the terms they (the SA team) offered.
The transformation of VFL into AFL (Australian Football League) resolved the issue in 1990. Nine SANFL clubs rejected the offer of the port Adelaide Football Club to enter into the season. Even the club was sued to prevent participating at the AFL. Later the dispute was settled since the offers were more favourable to the existing teams. At last, on September 19, 1990, the AFL approved the club to participate in the league.
Early Years
In the years 1991 and 1992, The Crows placed 9th, and began their superb action in the 1993 season. At their home ground The Crows were invincible at all the times. Most the games attracted the spectator s that all sometimes the grounds failed to accommodate the viewers. The Crows took the mark of the year for the terrific sporting of the players. The Crows finished the season obtaining the fifth position.
Following the failure of the previous year, The Crows tried their best to improve their performance in the season 1994. They participated in the pre-season competitions to gear up their existing performances.
The years of 1997 and 1998 were premiership years for The Crows. The club finished in the position fourth in 1997 after the guidance of Malcolm Blight, another former football star. The Crows claimed the first premiership after winning four consecutive finals. The club defeated the West Coast Eagles, on the first Final at Football Park, and then moved for Geelong ahead of overcoming the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda. The Preliminary Final against the Western Bulldogs was probably the greatest game ever in the history of The Crows. The club lost Tony Modra, the best striker for the club, by an injury.
Further in 1998, the club was put up in fifth position on the cycle. They won in 13 matches and lost in nine in home and away season.
Transformation
The Crows was honoured with the so called "premiership hangover" for several injuries in the year 1999. The year ended with several misfortunes and the club started rebuilding themselves a Premiership contestant. Gary Ayres took over the charge of coaching the club from Malcolm Blight in the year 2000. The Crows, however, recovered the loss of the season in Round 6. In the year 2001 they lost first three games. One of the best players for the club Darren Jarman retired from the club.
The Crows reached in the fourth place of the premiership in 2002. Unfortunately they were defeated in a Qualifying final by Brisbane. The club regained the repute in some other matches and became the favourite for the AFL premiership in 2003. But several injuries prevented the club to become the top favourite and it became the sixth in position. The year 2003 was a year of melancholy for the team and its fans due to several problems.
The team went under hard struggle in the year 2004. They lost in the first four games of the season. Another striker of the team, Wayne Carey, got a neck injury. The Crows passed the season vigorously due to regrouping. The won three among the last five games of the season.
The year 2005 was a prospective one for the club. They finished the year with 17-5 ratio. Moreover, the club won the minor premiership-McClelland Trophy.
The members of Adelaide Crows made milestones in the year 2006. Ben Hart recorded as the player of 300 matches, Andrew McLeod played his 250th match, and Mark Ricciuto observed the 300th matches. The Crows mount on the top of the AFL steps with an amazing record of 14-2 (win and loss). It was the best performance in of the team since its inception in 1991.
In the beginning of the season 2007, The Crows lost the first game at home, but had won the next three games. In the last home game of Mark before retirement, the ground was filled with around 46,500 crowds. The team was qualified at the final for the sixth time in seven years.
In the year 2008, several stars form the team retired. Some younger players appeared in the lead role. But recurrences of injuries lead the club in the ninth position of the premiership chart. In the middle of the year the team brought it on the fourth position, but later was placed in five for the shocking victory of St Kilda.
In the year 2009, some other players were delisted. And some young players were picked to fill the gaps. The Crows could not gain the fourth position and culminated the season in fifth.
Beginning of the year 2010 was not an achievable one for them. The record become 0-6 (win –loss) for them in the first six rounds. This happen mainly for the injuries and debut of around six players. In the middle of the season, The Crows won four consecutive matches.
The year 2011 was typical season for The Crows. They beat Hawthorn in the first round and lost three following matches. Coach Neil Craig stepped down from the post for the defeat by St Kilda (103 points).
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