Big-game performer Andrew McLeod the greatest Crow of all, but who else makes the top 20?
A club-record 340 games, two Norm Smith Medals and seven goals in a preliminary final, how can Andrew McLeod not be the greatest Crow of all? Find out who else made the list and send us your top 20 here.
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Some players were simply born for the big stage.
While the pressure of grand finals or matchwinning moments has terrified some players in the game’s history, other players have embraced it.
Some actually want the ball in their hands, want the responsibility and want to step up and lead the way.
They are players like Andrew ‘Bunji’ McLeod and Darren Jarman.
Adelaide has won two AFL premierships in its 30-year history and McLeod won the Norm Smith Medal as best-on-ground in both grand finals. He also kicked seven goals in the 1998 preliminary final which should not be forgotten.
And then there is Jarman, who played less than half of McLeod’s 340 games for the Crows but his impact when it mattered most was felt no less.
He kicked 11 goals in the Crows’ two grand final triumphs and three in the nailbiting 1997 preliminary final.
Both men rightly take their place at the pointy end of the list of top 20 Crows of all time since the club entered the competition in 1990.
1. ANDREW MCLEOD
Andrew McLeod has been Adelaide’s best player in arguably its three biggest games. His two Norm Smith Medals in the 1997 and 1998 grand final victories speak for themselves but the 1998 preliminary final – arguably Adelaide’s third (or fourth) most important game – he dominated as well. McLeod kicked seven goals (7.0) and had 19 disposals against the Western Bulldogs. The Crows also won a night premiership in 2003 and guess who won the Michael Tuck Medal as the big-game performer? And all that is the icing on the cake after Bunji – blessed with supreme skill, gut running and agility that flourished off halfback and penetrated the midfield – finished his career as Adelaide’s games record holder. He won three best-and-fairests – including in the 1997 premiership year – five All-Australians and is named in the Indigenous Team of the Century.
Key stat: McLeod played 340 games which is a club record at Adelaide.
2. MARK RICCIUTO
Ricciuto is the only other contender for the No. 1 spot and you could quite easily mount a case for having him ahead of McLeod. ‘Roo’ remains Adelaide’s only Brownlow Medallist, which he won in 2003, and he was All-Australian a staggering eight times. Lauded for his fearless attack on the footy and the way he led from the front as captain, Ricciuto played 312 games, including in the 1998 flag after he cruelly missed the 1997 triumph through injury. He was a three-time club champion including in the 1998 premiership year.
Key stat: Ricciuto served Adelaide for a club record seven years as captain.
3. BEN HART
The youngest ever Crow and the first to reach the 300-game milestone, Hart retired after 311 games in 2006 as one of the most respected players in the club’s history. Plucked from school footy at Rostrevor to debut in 1992, he played 22 games in his first season and was amazingly named All-Australian at just 18. There were no second year blues when he backed it up with another All-Australian crown in 1993, and again in 1999 and 2002. A super-reliable defender who also pinch hit in the forward-line at times in the mid-90s, Hart was a two-time best-and-fairest, played in both flags and took the AFL’s mark of the year in 1996. His performance in the 1998 grand final was a standout and pound-for-pound he was as good as they come, playing on tall or small with great affect.
Key stat: Hart was just 16 when he made his SANFL league debut for North Adelaide.
4. SHAUN REHN
Adelaide’s best ever ruckman and at his best was arguably the most influential big-man in the competition. Rehn played 134 games for the Crows and in both 97 and 98 premierships before joining Hawthorn where he finished his career with 167 games, but it would have been many more had three serious knee injuries not interrupted his career. Rehn’s ruckwork was superb, as was his ability to hunt the footy at ground level, and his resume includes a best-and-fairest in 1994 and All-Australian in 1998. His impact was not measured in the number of games played but his influence on those games and on the group at the Crows at the time.
Key stat: Rehn suffered three ACL injuries during his career.
5. DARREN JARMAN
Jarman kicked 11 goals in Adelaide’s two grand finals – including six game-breaking goals against St Kilda in 1997 and five against North Melbourne in 1998. He played 121 games at the Crows, to go with 109 at Hawthorn, and kicked 264 goals. As good as his grand final heroics were, many just as fondly remember his three goals in the 1997 preliminary final when the Crows beat the Western Bulldogs by just two points. Jarman was blessed with exquisite skills, particularly by foot, was a three-time leading goal kicker at Adelaide and won one of his two All-Australians while at the club.
Key stat: Jarman also played 144 SANFL games for North Adelaide.
6. SIMON GOODWIN
Goodwin could be considered unlucky not to crack the top five given his versatility and ability to dominate games at either end of the ground, and in the midfield. He kicked 162 goals in his 275 games for Adelaide and captained the club for three years when he drew high praise from former coach Neil Craig who described him as the best captain he had. Goody played in the club’s two premierships, won three Malcolm Blight Medals and five All-Australians in a decorated career.
Key stat: Goodwin was just 20 years old when he played in Adelaide’s 1997 premiership.
7. TONY MODRA
The biggest cult hero in club history, there was plenty of substance behind Modra’s style. He kicked 440 goals in 118 games at an average of 3.7 a game, and played in the 1997 preliminary final and 1998 qualifying final but cruelly missed both grand finals due to injury and selection. He also kicked six goals in Adelaide’s 1993 preliminary final. Modra was as good in the air as he was on the ground with the clever use of his body and remains the Crows all-time leading goal kicker.
Key stat: Modra kicked 13 goals in games against Richmond in 1993 and Carlton in 1994.
8. NIGEL SMART
Smart would do anything for his team, including walking over hot coals on a pre-season camp, and his exploits on the field were just as committed. Smart played 278 games and was a three-time All-Australian in 1991, 1993 and 1998 when he was named in the back pocket, the half-back-flank and on the interchange bench, but he was more than capable when he went forward kicking 116 goals including 13 in both premiership seasons.
Key stat: Smart was the first Adelaide player to notch up 250 games.
9. TONY MCGUINNESS
McGuinness played 109 games at Footscray via Glenelg and still produced some of his best football as a Crow when he returned to South Australia to join Adelaide in 1991. McGuinness was a tenacious midfielder who broke games open with his pace away from stoppage and penetrating left foot, and often had to fight his way out of an opposition tag. McGuinness served as club captain in 1995-96, won the 1993 best-and-fairest and was a three-time All-Australian while in a Crows guernsey.
Key stat: McGuinness also won the Magarey Medal in 1982.
10. MARK BICKLEY
There were better players, more skilful and more brilliant, but were there tougher, more courageous, selfless and versatile all at the same time as Bickley? The two-time premiership captain was super reliable and would stand up in big games. Bickley played across halfback and through the midfield, craved body contact and was still standing when the heat was on -judged by being named ‘best team man’ on three occasions. Not bad for one of the last players picked on Adelaide’s inaugural 52-man squad.
Key stat: Bickley captained Adelaide for 102 games in four seasons.
11. SCOTT THOMPSON
A Port Adelaide man who became one of the greatest Crows. Thompson played 39 games at Melbourne before joining the Crows and adding 269. Ultra durable, Thompson was always available for selection, resilient and highly consistent as a rugged inside midfielder. Towards the end of his career he began to play more forward where he was strong overhead. Is a two-time best-and-fairest (2011-12), All-Australian and won the Showdown Medal in the emotional Phil Walsh tribute game in 2015.
Key stat: Thompson amassed 51 disposals against Gold Coast in Round 22, 2011.
12. PATRICK DANGERFIELD
Dangerfield will go down as one of the greatest ever but how much of that reputation was forged in his first 154 games at the Crows? Enough to command a spot in the club’s top 20. Drafted as a schoolboy, he spent his first season at home in Victoria but did the No. 32 guernsey proud when he debuted. In eight seasons at the Crows, Danger was All-Australian three times and won the Malcolm Blight Medal in his final year. A midfield bull, he loved the contest and often willed his team across the line. He has achieved more at Geelong including a Brownlow Medal but his early years at Adelaide were more than just formative, they were brutally affective.
Key stat: Dangerfield was Pick No. 10 in the 2007 national draft.
13. RORY SLOANE
How do you measure heart and soul on paper? Sloane has done as much for Adelaide off the field or without the ball as he has on it in his 200 games so far. Captain and spiritual leader who sets the example for others to follow with his words, intent to remain a one-club player, and actions particularly his willingness to tackle. A draft steal with Pick No. 44 in 2008, Sloane is now a two-time club champion, All-Australian and Showdown Medallist with more to come.
Key stat: Sloane laid a career-high 15 tackles against Hawthorn in Round 2, 2017.
14. EDDIE BETTS
Betts was a fan favourite in his 132 games at Adelaide and took his career to a new level as a Crow. He kicked 310 goals to top the club’s goal kicking tally four times, was named All-Australian three times and kicked goal of the year twice. He also had an immeasurable ability to bring fans through the gate and unite the club and the football community. Betts kicked 55 goals in Adelaide’s grand final year of 2017, and became a Showdown specialist with regular bags of 3, 4 and 5 in the biggest game in SA footy.
Key stat: Betts has won the AFL’s goal of the year award four times.
15. TYSON EDWARDS
Remarkable durability for his 321 games, Edwards did not finish his career with the individual accolades of many of his teammates but his reputation as a reliable, ball-winning midfielder remains high. Edwards played in the Crows’ back-to-back premierships and continued to get better, finishing runner-up in the club’s club champion award three times (2002, 2003, 2006).
Key stat: Edwards is second on Adelaide’s all-time games record list.
16. DANIEL TALIA
Super reliable lockdown defender, often taking the opposition’s biggest and best forward, Talia well and truly earnt his life membership at Adelaide this year. He has played 187 games, winning the 2014 best-and-fairest and was All-Australian in 2016 and 2014 when named at full back and centre-half-back.
Key stat: Talia has kicked three goals in 187 games.
17. TAYLOR WALKER
Closing fast on Tony Modra’s record (440) for most goals in club history, Walker is up to 428 and may well go past him if the competition resumes this season. He joined the club as a scholarship selection from Broken Hill and has led the club’s goalkicking three times including a career-high 63 in 2012 before he did his knee the following season. In 190 games, he has also led the club as captain through its darkest time with the death of Phil Walsh, and to the 2017 grand final, and was twice voted the competition’s best captain by the AFLPA.
Key stat: Walker kicked five goals against Hawthorn in his first season of AFL footy in 2009.
18. CHRIS MCDERMOTT
Adelaide’s inaugural captain, McDermott played 117 games for the Crows which was after 276 at Glenelg. He was often found at the bottom of a pack in an era where you could dive on the footy and fight for possession. ‘Bone’ had a trademark sweeping handball which allowed his team to break away from stoppage. He was All-Australian and club champion in 1992.
Key stat: McDermott played 15 games for South Australia and was captain for seven years.
19. NATHAN BASSETT
A tenacious, determined and dogged defender in his 210 games, Bassett had the capacity to play on a range of forwards no matter how big or small, strong or agile. He was named All-Australian in the back pocket in 2006, was runner-up in the best-and-fairest in 2005 and was named best team man for the club.
Key stat: Bassett is a two-time SANFL premiership coach with Norwood in 2012 and 2013.
20. SAM JACOBS
Jacobs will be remember for his time at Adelaide as a tireless workhorse who barely missed a game in his nine years, and at his best was a brilliant tap ruckman who covered the ground and provided a marking target at both ends. He played 184 games, was named in the All-Australian squad and was a three-time Showdown Medallist as the best player in the hottest cauldron in SA footy.
Key stat: Jacobs had 61 hit-outs in the Round 15 Showdown in 2012.
Honourable mentions: Ben Rutten, Graham Johncock, Rod Jameson, Andrew Jarman, Michael Doughty, Brett Burton, Richard Douglas and Matthew Robran.