Meet Matt Sammut, the Crows’ saxophone player who’s jazzing up the pre-match entertainment at Adelaide Oval

Meet the Crows tragic – and accomplished musician – who turned heads at the club’s season-opener with a dazzling performance on top of the Riverbank Stand.

For Crows fans at Adelaide Oval, it was one of the biggest highlights of an impressive round one victory.

A mystery saxophonist, suspended high above the Riverbank Stand, belting out a spine-tingling version of Levels – the iconic dance anthem by late superstar DJ Avicii – just seconds before the first bounce.

But ask Adelaide musician Matt Summut about his dazzling performance before the March 16 season-opener against St Kilda and he struggles to find the words.

“It was a real pinch-me moment, to play for the club I’ve supported my whole life. But to be honest, the adrenaline was pumping … looking back on it now, I don’t remember much. It was all a bit of a blur,” he told The Sunday Mail.

“A lot of planning had gone into it, though we had only one rehearsal beforehand. There were some nerves … it was just a relief that it all went well.”

Mr Sammut’s starring role in the Crows’ revamped pre-match entertainment was one of the main off-field talking points to come out of the afternoon, which finished with a stunning 63-point win for the home side.

Crows fan and saxophone player Matt Sammut with player Rory Laird who will play his 250th game, pictured at Adelaide Oval. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

It was enough for Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello to declare Mr Sammut the club’s good luck charm, but the humble performer doesn’t want to take any credit.

“I’m there to do a job … I’m just there to play the saxophone,” he said.

“But it’s good to have something to get people going, it’s a whole fan experience and it creates an amazing vibe before the game.”

Mr Sammut, 32, will now bring his talents to every Crows home match, performing a 90-second version of the same up-tempo track prior to the start of games – but he won’t always be in same spot.

“Every week will be different, but I can’t tell you where … that’s all part of the fun,” said the musician, who was approached in November to take on the role.

Crows chief executive Tim Silvers said they wanted to make the pre-match as “memorable as possible” for the club’s thousands of fans.

“We challenged ourselves to come up with some new pre-match elements and Matt’s saxophone performance, as well as our live drummers, have added to the atmosphere and the feedback has been really positive,” he said.

“We’re wanting there to be something for all ages.”

Crows fan and saxophone player Matt Sammut with player Rory Laird who will play his 250th game, pictured at Adelaide Oval. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

Mr Sammut first picked up a saxophone at the age of eight, playing in bands at school, before completing a jazz degree at the prestigious Elder Conservatorium.

“The saxophone is the closest thing to singing, it’s such a soulful instrument. It’s a great way to express yourself,” he said.

Now a regular performer around town, Mr Sammut has residencies at top city venues including rooftop bar 2KW and at SkyCity Adelaide, while he also teaches music to high school students part-time.

But for the self-confessed Crows tragic, nothing will top his AFL debut earlier this month.

“Playing on the roof of Adelaide Oval is something I could never have imagined when I first started playing saxophone,” Mr Sammut said.