Rare Crows memorabilia to be auctioned as club salutes its heroes and boosts welfare fund

A decade after making a major move to honour every player who has represented the club in the AFL, the Crows are holding a rare auction for a cause close to their heart.

Ten years after making a major move to honour every player who has represented the Adelaide Football Club in the AFL, the Crows are ready to auction off a rare set of signed guernseys recognising some of their greatest players.

In 2015, 1997 premiership defender Rod Jameson moved to embrace the club’s history and its players by having them sign two Crows guernseys bearing the number they wore into battle – one to be kept by the club for historic reasons and the other to be used as an important fundraising tool to support its welfare fund.

Perhaps the most famous was the No. 32 – first worn by former West Torrens star and Crows inaugural squad member Bruce Lindsay, before it was handed to two of Adelaide’s greatest players, 2003 Brownlow Medallist and Australian Football Hall of Fame member Mark Ricciuto, and eight-times All-Australian Patrick Dangerfield, who is now at Geelong.

Ace key forward Darcy Fogarty is the current holder of the Crows’ No. 32 jumper.

The No. 32 and 7 guernseys were the only ones auctioned 10 years ago.

The pursuit of many of the club’s past players, who are scattered around the country, had stalled before the club’s heritage committee became involved and chased down the last 50 or 60 names, plus the newer Crows, who now sign their numbered jumper on debut as part of their welcome procedure.

Adelaide defender Max Michalanney (left) and inaugural Crow David Marshall, with the signed No. 16 guernsey they have both worn. Picture: Adelaide Football Club

The club, which started its AFL sojourn in 1991, has now had 268 players wear its red, blue and gold tri-colours at AFL level.

Eventually the club set will be put on display at the Crows’ new Thebarton Oval complex.

In the meantime, a new batch of jumpers have been signed, sealed and delivered, with some available to the public.

From Monday, 18 double-up jumpers will go up for auction as Adelaide’s Past Players and Officials group runs the exclusive sale through Official Memorabilia Auctions.

They include the popular No. 9, which has been signed on the front and back by 321-gamer Tyson Edwards, dual club champion Rory Sloane, original Crow Bruce Lindner, dual premiership player Kym Koster, the brilliant Tony Hall and current standout defender Nick Murray.

The No 12 guernsey should also be hot property, with its previous owners Simon Tregenza, Robert Shirley and 2014 club champion Daniel Talia being joined in etching their names in history by current captain and Brownlow Medal fancy Jordan Dawson.

Other numbers in the auction and their most famous ‘owners’ include 11 (Tony McGuinness), 13 (Taylor Walker), 14 (David Mackay), 15 (David Pittman), 16 (Ken McGregor), 19 (Mark Stevens), 24 (Brett Burton), 27 (Tom Lynch), 29 (Rory Laird), 33 (Brodie Smith), 34 (Ben Hart), 36 (Simon Goodwin), 42 (Chad Rintoul), 44 (Nathan Bock), 49 (Mark Viska) and 52 (Shaun Rehn).

Max Michalanney in action for the Crows against West Coast this season. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Max Michalanney (left) with David Marshall and the signed No. 16 guernsey, which has also been worn by Nick Pesch, Barry Standfield, Ken McGregor, Phil Davis and Luke Brown. Picture: Adelaide Football Club.

The No. 16 is certain to have plenty of suitors, with its foundation owner being the popular David Marshall and its current owner being young gun defender Max Michalanney.

Another batch of numbered guernseys will be auctioned later in the year.

Adelaide PPO chairman Sam Jacobs, once the proud owner of the No. 24 jumper, said it was an opportunity for fans, collectors and businesses to secure a prized piece of memorabilia while supporting the club’s welfare fund.

“It’s such a rare chance to own a guernsey with the signatures of every player to wear that number in the club’s first 34 seasons,’’ said Jacobs, who coaches SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens.

“It’s 10 years since the project started and it has been a huge task to get all the signatures.

“This is an important fundraising event for the PPO as we look to build our welfare assistance fund to allow us to continue to support former players and officials, while having a set at the club is a great way to honour and acknowledge all the players who have represented the club in the AFL, connecting the past with the present.”

Originally published as Rare Crows memorabilia to be auctioned as club salutes its heroes and boosts welfare fund