First clash - Adelaide Crows soar into history in trial hit-out against Essendon

WITH the Crows poised to kick-off season 2013 against Essendon on Friday, we look back at their first trial match against the Bombers in 1991.

Adelaide v Essendon

WITH the Crows poised to kick-off season 2013 against Essendon on Friday, we look back at their first trial match against the Bombers on February 1, 1991.

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IF LAST night's sensational match at Football Park was merely a trial game, Adelaide will be rocked to its foundations when the Crows get into the "serious" confrontations.

The Adelaide Crows turned an Australian Football League dream into a 13.14 (92) to 10.5 (65) reality against Essendon last night.

Fuelled by the fervor of 50,000 screaming fans, they signalled an early warning to all AFL rivals. The Crows have arrived.

It was a trial, it was a trial - that message should be imprinted on the minds of everyone who witnessed last night's initial competitive outing.

But what a trial it turned out to be. And what a fantastic morale booster it represents for the men who three months ago were thrown together and asked to prove themselves worthy of wearing an AFL guernsey.

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For three months they toiled as individuals, gradually learning how they should unite as a team.

Last night they not only had each other for support - they had a packed stadium roaring and cheering every move they made.

The atmosphere was like a State game. "Us" against the dreaded Victorians.

The only difference is, the Crows were not making a cameo appearance.

They were setting the groundwork for a full season ahead, most of them starting the match with no experience in the big league.

At the end, they were deliriously happy - but fully aware the task has just begun and there are many more hurdles to negotiate before the start of games for premiership points, on March 22.

It was a trial, it was a trial - but try telling that to the 50,000 fans who burst into spontaneous applause when the Crows ran onto the field for their initial AFL match.

With a capacity crowd of 50,000 behind them, the Crows played football with athletic skill to more than satisfy each and every one of the supporters who had suffered a massive traffic jam and long queues to watch their unofficial AFL debut.

In the forward lines Scott Hodges displayed typical magic and worked in admirable tandem with centre half-forward John Klug and pocket Bruce Lindner.

At the opposite end, Tom Warhurst capably restrained Essendon big gun Paul Salmon, and in the centre circle Romano Negri and Mark Mickan showed Adelaide may not be the ruckless flock some critics imagined it might.

It was the running men, however - in particular, acting captain Tony McGuinness, centre Andrew Jarman and wingman David Marshall - who took the Crows to a first-term lead and a five-point advantage at the half-time break.

The Crows, training like guerillas since October, undoubtedly were ecstatic to actually be playing after their rigorous preparation, and Adelaide's football supporters certainly were more than happy to watch what was officially a mere trial between opposing AFL teams.

And when ex-Geelong forward Lindner kicked the first point less than two minutes into the first quarter, then new teammate Grantley Fielke kicked truly two minutes later for Adelaide's first goal, Footy Park exploded as the public's reaction to "summer football" was unmistakable.

Essendon did not alter the scoreboard until the 10th minute, full forward Salmon surprising no-one as he goaled after receiving a free paid against Crows' full back Warhurst.

Adelaide's defensive network combined to repeatedly clear play away from Essendon's attacking regions but was forced to wait until the 13th minute to score again, rover Darel Hart hitting the post.

The Crows were looking extremely good, with Jarman and McGuinness successfully directing the flow. Jarman added a point from an accurate shot that sliced the top of Anthony Daniher's fingers, but former Woodville forward Klug was more fortunate, goaling from 30m out directly in front after 15 minutes.

Lindner quickly followed suit, but it was 1990 Magarey Medallist Hodges who received the loudest applause when, from a set shot 45m out, he did what he does best to negotiate what will probably be the first of many goals in the Crows' banded jumper.

McGuinness left the ground to allow Eddie Hocking a run, and returned as Hart left the field shortly before David Flood gave Essendon the last goal for a 4.3 (27) to 2.0 (12) quarter-time scoreline.

The second term did not begin as well for the Crows, Simon Madden and Flood booting early goals to reduce the difference to three points before Rodney Maynard - one of four Norwood contributors to the starting line-up - snapped successfully at the northern goals.

McGuinness and Lindner continued to cover the outer boundaries of the circle with enthusiasm, a particularly sneaky 10m pass from McGuinness earning Lindner an unsuccessful shot from 45m out eight minutes into the second quarter.

It was the acting captain's former Glenelg teammate Marshall who added the Crows' sixth goal 20 minutes into the term, finding the space above the goal umpire's head from close to 60m out.

But Marshall, who earlier this week admitted this match was almost like starting his long career over again, could do nothing to prevent Essendon rover Allan Ezard replying with the 'Dons sixth major before the siren heralded half time, the Crows holding a five-point lead - 6.6 (42) to 6.1 (37).

But a Gary O'Donnell goal gave Essendon the lead for the first time in the match at the two minute mark of the third term.

Hodges regained the advantage for the Crows with his second goal two minutes later, taking Adelaide's lead again to five points.

Klug could not find the goal with two successive attempts but a second goal to Salmon had scores level 18 minutes into the quarter.

A point off the full forward's boot then gave the 'Dons the lead.

The Crows hit back again in the closing stages of the term and when Mark Mickan goaled near siren time the Crows were eight points ahead - 8.11 (59) to 8.3 (51).

It was hard not to get swept up with the emotion and atmosphere and it was hard not to imagine that the positive aspects from the Crows point of view may be slightly tainted by the fact Essendon clearly was not the full-strength Essendon that stormed into the 1990 AFL grand final.

The most positive aspect was the obvious development of team spirit that unfolded before the capacity crowd.

Acting-captain McGuinness twice figured in the nurturing of team spirit.

Late in the third term, when Essendon was within a goal of the Crows, he smothered the ball off the boot of a Bomber opponent.

Three teammates rushed in to pat him on the back.

Perhaps that action crossed through his mind just seconds after the final siren. As he took a few steps down the players' race he suddenly stopped and ran back onto the field.

The players had assembled as a group to savor the moment of triumph.

McGuinness played a titanic role in the victory but, more importantly, the team must remain united if it is to savor more moments like that.

That feeling of togetherness. The feeling of confidence gained by such a win.

That's what made last night's game such a success for the Crows - certainly it was more important than the 27-point win.

While McGuinness was possibly the best, many other players stood out and have cemented their place for the match against Geelong, also at Football Park, on February 13.

Centre half-forward Klug was a dominant force and looks to have come of age as a key attacking player.

Rodney Maynard has the style of play designed to be showcased in AFL. His versatility and poise under pressure is a huge bonus.

Marshall had no trouble finding the ball and, just as he has done in 322 games with Glenelg, delivered it perfectly.

Big ruckman Romano Negri was a power in ruck, Scott Lee controlled his back pocket position and was outstanding in the second half.

Stephen Schwerdt, Robbie Thompson and Matthew Kelly also excelled under pressure and left no doubt they are ready for the AFL scene.

Scott Hodges kicked four goals from full forward as a pointer to what he is capable of and Eddie Hocking, an interchange specialist with Central District, looks like filling that position with the Crows to good effect.

The Adelaide players benefitted from a gruelling pre-season campaign, orchestrated by coach Graham Cornes.

Their fitness was superior to Essendon, although Essendon has a later start to the Foster's Cup - courtesy of winning that pre-season series last year and earning a bye in this year's first round.