AFL 2024: Adelaide Crows determined to stage a standalone, primetime Showdown every year

Adelaide had to push hard to finally give one of the game’s biggest rivalries the standalone stage it deserves – and now the Crows want more of it, ‘like the eastern state clubs’.

Adelaide is determined to stage a standalone, primetime Showdown every year.

Fresh off hosting the rivalry’s first one, the Crows are set to push the AFL for their home match against Port Adelaide to become an annual, standalone Thursday or Friday night fixture.

A crowd of 52,106 were at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night – the largest Showdown attendance since April 2017 and largest crowd for a Crows home match since that year’s preliminary final against Geelong.

52,106 fans attended Thursday night’s Showdown. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

Crows chairman John Olsen told this masthead SA’s rivalry deserved primetime billing.

“We will certainly be submitting that we should be having a nationally televised standalone Showdown every year,” Olsen said.

“It showcases one of the great rivalries in the AFL and there is no doubt in my mind that we are entitled and should have that type of event shown nationally across Australia, showcasing the best of South Australian football on the national stage.

“We are entitled to be on the national stage, like the eastern state clubs.

“It was something the club fought hard for last year.

“We were able to attract 52,000 fans, the atmosphere was outstanding and the stadium electric, I’ll be interested to see the broadcast figures.”

The Crows had pushed hard for a first primetime, standalone Showdown this year and was rewarded as part of a fixture that offered some redress for the goal umpiring howler against Sydney in round 23 last season that potentially cost Adelaide a finals berth.

Although the Crows have played all four of their Adelaide Oval matches on Thursday or Friday nights to begin 2024, they are expected to receive fewer in those slots when the fixture is released in the next fortnight, as a result of their form.

The club moved to a 3-5 win-loss record after beating the Power.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Adelaide Crows determined to stage a standalone, primetime Showdown every year