Chris McDermott’s memories of the first Showdown

It was the game that stopped a state — the first Showdown between the Crows and Power on April 20, 1997. Chris McDermott shares his memories for Part 1 of The Greatest Showdowns series.

Kym Koster is tackled by Donald Dickie in Showdown I

The biggest game in the history of football in this state had arrived: Showdown 1.

It was Sunday, April 20, 1997. For the first time South Australia was a state divided.

We had relished interstate rivalry and the successes of the 1980s and ’90s — but this was different.

State versus state, replaced by the purity of suburban warfare at a level South Australia’s sporting public had never witnessed before. The Adelaide Crows versus Port Adelaide.

There would never be another game quite like it.

The build-up during the week was huge. Grand final-like — only bigger.

Port’s Brayden Lyle tackles Adelaide’s Brett James in Showdown I.

The “team for all South Australians” versus the biggest and most famous club in the state.

The weather was fine, the track was hard and the tailgate barbecues outside Football Park were out in force pre-match.

The smell of the lamb chops was irresistible. The taste of a pre-match West End wasn’t bad, either.

The thousands of fans that had arrived early were in great spirits. The banter was rich and jovial. You knew that wouldn’t last. It couldn’t.

This was the Crows versus Port Adelaide. The wounds ran deep and scores had to be settled.

Even for me, as a recently retired past player, the excitement was undeniable. So was the envy.

What many of us who played in the SANFL’s glory days, and those early years of the Crows, would have given for one taste of this magnificent contest.

Crow Andrew McLeod tackles Port’s Peter Burgoyne in the first Showdown at Football Park.

There was nothing quite like facing the mighty Port Adelaide Football Club. Well, nothing except beating them, anyway.

It didn’t happen often.

In all, 47,256 fans crammed the West Lakes ground and took their seats. At least, that’s the official number. It felt like many, many more.

The attendance wouldn’t be beaten until Showdown 10, in 2001.

The game was a ripper.

It was always going to be — highlighted, of course, by the unforgettable bout of the century between Adelaide defender Rod Jameson and Power full forward Scott Cummings.

Jameson won by sheer volume of punches thrown. Not one landed.

Cummings spent most of the fight trying to get out of his jumper that Jameson had pulled over his head.

Adelaide’s Kym Koster is tackled by the Power’s Donald Dickie.

It was great theatre — but perhaps only Rocky Berg’s fight against Lester Ellis at Memorial Drive in 1993 was poorer for quality.

I swear, Lester missed him with the punch that ended the contest.

Jamo might have landed one on Scotty’s armpit.

The signs were ominous from early on but inaccurate kicking by the Power kept the Crows in touch.

It didn’t last.

By half-time Port led by 18 points. Thirty minutes later the lead was 33 points and the game seemingly over — yet it wasn’t.

When Tony Modra is on your team and in form, anything is possible. His seven goals gave Adelaide a faint hope of a miracle victory, but it wasn’t to be.

One of the Power’s favourite sons, Darren Mead, was a rock in defence and repelled many a forward entry to be clearly the Power’s best player.

There was no Showdown medal

Port’s Josh Francou bursts clear of Adelaide’s Jason McCartney. Picture: Phil Hillyard

in the early days but the satisfaction of victory would have been more than enough.

The Power were far too good. Michael Wilson, Shayne Breuer and Brendon Lade led the charge along with Mead. Modra was the standout for the Crows.

Mark Ricciuto, with 30 possessions, was the best of the rest.

In the aftermath of their loss to the “upstart” Port Adelaide, Crows fans couldn’t vacate the ground quickly enough.

Power fans stayed till dark — and partied much longer.

Bragging rights were theirs. Until next time. There would be a re-match.

Hopefully, there always will be.