Adelaide Football Club facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Adelaide Football Club
Names
Full name	Adelaide Football Club Limited
Nickname(s)	Crows Crom (jocular) Indigenous rounds: Kuwarna
Motto	We Fly As One Made From South Australia
2024 season
After finals	DNQ (AFL) DNQ (SANFL) TBA (AFLW)
Home-and-away season	15th (AFL) 6th (SANFL) 4th (AFLW)
Leading goalkicker	Darcy Fogarty (41) (AFL) Lachlan Gollant (29) (SANFL) TBA (AFLW)
Malcolm Blight Medal	Ben Keays, Jordan Dawson (AFL) Kieran Strachan (SANFL) TBA (AFLW)
Club details
Founded	12 September 1990
Colours	Navy blue, red, gold
Competition	AFL: Senior men AFLW: Senior women SANFL: Reserves men
Chairman	John Olsen
CEO	Tim Silvers
Coach	AFL: Matthew Nicks AFLW: Matthew Clarke SANFL: Matthew Wright
Captain(s)	AFL: Jordan Dawson AFLW: Chelsea Randall SANFL: Jack Madgen
Premierships	AFL (2) 1997 1998 AFLW (3) 2017 2019 2022 (S6)
Ground(s)	AFL: Adelaide Oval (53,500) AFLW: Norwood Oval (10,000) Unley Oval (10,000)
Former ground(s)	Football Park (1991–2013)
Training ground(s)	Football Park Thebarton Oval (future)
Uniforms
Home Clash Event
Other information
Official website	afc.com.au
Current season

The Adelaide Football Club, often called the Crows, is a professional Australian rules football team. It's based in Adelaide, South Australia, and was started in 1990. The Crows have a men's team that plays in the Australian Football League (AFL) since 1991. They also have a women's team in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition since 2017.

The club's offices and training areas are in West Lakes, where their old home ground, Football Park, used to be. Since 2014, the Crows play their home games at Adelaide Oval. This stadium has 53,500 seats and is in North Adelaide.

The Crows were created in 1990 to represent South Australia in the AFL. They were first owned by the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). In 2014, they became independent. Their men's team won the Grand Final in 1997 and 1998. They have played in the finals 15 times in 33 years.

Adelaide is the most successful team in the AFL Women's competition. They are one of only two clubs to win multiple championships. They won in 2017, 2019, and 2022 (Season 6). The club also has a reserve team that plays in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).

The men's team is currently coached by Matthew Nicks. Their captain is Jordan Dawson.

History of the Adelaide Crows

Chart of yearly ladder positions for Adelaide in AFL

Starting Strong: The 1990s

When the VFL became the AFL in 1990, South Australian clubs first decided not to join until 1992. But the AFL wanted a team sooner. So, the Port Adelaide Football Club almost joined on its own. Other SANFL clubs didn't like this.

Eventually, on September 19, 1990, the AFL approved a new South Australian club. This club would be the Adelaide Crows.

The Adelaide Crows played their first AFL season in 1991. Their first coach was Graham Cornes, and their first captain was Chris McDermott. They finished ninth out of 15 teams, which was very good for a new club. Adelaide's first AFL game was on March 22, 1991, at Football Park. They beat Hawthorn by a huge 86 points! The Crows reached their first finals series in 1993 AFL season. They lost in the preliminary final to Essendon.

Winning Championships in 1997 and 1998

In 1997, another South Australian team, Port Adelaide, joined the AFL. The Crows finished fourth and made the finals. They won their first final at Football Park against West Coast. The next week, they narrowly beat Geelong. This led them to an away preliminary final against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.

Even though they lost star player Tony Modra to injury and were 31 points behind at half-time, the Crows fought back. They kicked four goals in the last quarter to win by two points! This meant they reached their first AFL Grand Final. They would play St Kilda a week later.

St Kilda was favored to win the Grand Final. But the Crows, even with key players injured, came from behind again. They kicked 14 goals in the second half to win by 31 points! Darren Jarman kicked six goals, and Shane Ellen kicked five. Andrew McLeod was named the best player in the Grand Final, winning the Norm Smith Medal. This win was a huge moment for South Australian sports.

Few expected the Crows to win again in 1998 AFL season. They often had close games, losing many by small margins. They finished fifth on the ladder. They lost badly to Melbourne in their first final. But thanks to the finals system, they still moved on. They then beat the Sydney Swans in a semi-final. This set up another preliminary final against the Western Bulldogs. This time, the Crows won easily by 68 points. Matthew Robran kicked six goals, and Andrew McLeod kicked seven.

In the Grand Final, Adelaide was again the underdog against North Melbourne. North Melbourne led by 24 points at half-time. But just like the year before, Adelaide took over in the second half. They won by 35 points, becoming the only club in the 1990s to win back-to-back AFL premierships! Darren Jarman kicked five goals. Andrew McLeod won his second straight Norm Smith Medal, which was amazing. After a tough year in 1999, coach Malcolm Blight left. The Crows entered the new century with two championships.

The 2000s: Finals and Close Calls

The Crows made the finals again in 2001 AFL season. They lost their first three games that season. They were beaten by Carlton in the elimination final. Star player Darren Jarman retired after this game.

In 2002 AFL season, Adelaide had a great record of 15 wins and 7 losses. But they lost to Collingwood in the preliminary final. Ben Hart won the club's best and fairest award. In 2003, the Crows won the pre-season competition, their first time winning it. Their season ended in the semi-finals against the Brisbane Lions. That year, Adelaide captain Mark Ricciuto became the first and only Crow to win the Brownlow Medal. He shared the award with two other players.

The Crows returned to the finals in 2005. They had a famous win against their rivals Port Adelaide in a semi-final. But they lost in the preliminary final to the West Coast Eagles. This happened again in 2006, losing to West Coast by an even smaller margin.

Adelaide kept making the finals until the end of the 2000s. But they always lost in the early stages. Collingwood knocked them out in 2008 and 2009.

Adelaide's finals runs in the 2000s

The 2010s: Changes and Challenges

The Crows changed their logo before the 2010 season. They had a very bad start, losing their first six games. They finished 11th, missing the finals for the first time under coach Neil Craig. Many long-time players like Andrew McLeod and Simon Goodwin retired.

The 2011 campaign was the worst in the club's history at that time. After a big loss, coach Neil Craig stepped down. Assistant coach Mark Bickley took over for the rest of the season. The Crows finished 14th.

New coach Brenton Sanderson started well, winning a pre-season championship in 2012. The team had a great regular season, winning 17 games. They played against Hawthorn in the preliminary final. Hawthorn won by five points, another heartbreaking finals loss for the Crows.

Adelaide missed the finals in 2013 and 2014. Because of this, Sanderson was let go. In 2014, the club moved its home games to the new Adelaide Oval. But their training and offices are still at Football Park.

2012: Breaking Rules

At the end of 2012, it was found that Adelaide had broken rules about player payments and how new players were chosen. The club and its CEO were fined. Adelaide was also not allowed to pick players in the first two rounds of the 2012 and 2013 drafts. This was one of the biggest rule-breaking incidents in the league.

2014: Becoming Independent

In March 2014, the Adelaide Football Club gained full control of its own operations. Before this, the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) owned the Crows' license. This change meant the Crows could manage themselves independently for the first time.

2015: A Sad Time

The 2015 season started well for the Crows under new coach Phil Walsh. The team was improving quickly.

Tragically, on July 3, coach Phil Walsh passed away. The game against Geelong was cancelled, and both teams received points. The club's SANFL game was also postponed.

Fans gather at Adelaide Oval to pay tribute to Phil Walsh.

On July 6, assistant coach Scott Camporeale became the temporary coach. The team showed amazing spirit. They won six of their next seven games and made the finals. They beat the Western Bulldogs in a thrilling elimination final. Their season ended when they lost to Hawthorn the next week.

2016–2019: The Don Pyke Years

After star player Patrick Dangerfield left, Don Pyke became the new coach. Many thought the Crows would struggle in 2016. But they did well, making the semi-finals before losing to Sydney.

The club had a fantastic 2017 season. They won their first six games and stayed near the top all year. Adelaide won the minor premiership, meaning they finished first on the ladder. They entered the 2017 finals as favorites. They beat Greater Western Sydney and Geelong to reach the Grand Final. There, they faced Richmond. Despite being strong favorites, the Crows lost by 48 points. This was their first time finishing as runners-up.

The club found it hard to repeat their 2017 success in 2018. Before the season, the players went on a controversial pre-season camp. This camp caused problems with team spirit. The Crows also had many injuries to key players. They finished 12th, missing the finals.

In 2019, there were high hopes for the team. But they finished 11th, missing the finals again. There was a lot of talk in the media about the team. Co-captain Taylor Walker stepped down as captain. A week later, coach Don Pyke also left.

2018 Adelaide Crows Pre-season Camp

The 2018 Adelaide Crows pre-season camp was held from January 29 to February 2. It was meant to prepare the players for the 2018 AFL season. Later, some players shared details about the camp. These details showed that the camp had a negative impact on some players and affected team morale.

2020–Present: Ups and Downs

Matthew Nicks became Adelaide's senior coach in October 2019. In the COVID-19-affected 2020 AFL season, the Crows lost their first 13 games. They finished last, getting their first "wooden spoon" (last place) in club history. However, they ended the season with some hope, winning three games in a row. The Crows got their highest-ever draft pick, which they used to pick Riley Thilthorpe.

The Crows won their first game of the 2021 AFL season, beating Geelong. They improved slightly from 2020. Captain Taylor Walker was banned for six games due to racist comments during a SANFL match. Jordan Dawson joined the Crows from Sydney. This trade helped Adelaide move up the ladder in 2022.

2022–Present: After COVID

Matthew Nicks coaching in 2022.

In 2022, the Crows played the first-ever Friday night Showdown. They won with a kick after the siren from new player Dawson. Captain Rory Sloane had a serious knee injury. Other players shared the captain role. Adelaide traded for Izak Rankine at a high price.

The Crows were a highlight of the first-ever Gather Round in 2023. They beat several top teams. Some controversial game finishes, like a disallowed goal in Round 23, cost the Crows a spot in the finals. Adelaide finished 10th in 2023, their best spot since 2017. This was partly thanks to their new captain, Jordan Dawson. The 2024 was disappointing. There were questions about coach Nicks, especially after dropping young player Josh Rachele.

Club Symbols

Club Guernsey

Adelaide has three main guernsey (jersey) designs. They are made by the Irish company O'Neills.

Current Designs

The home guernsey has navy blue, red, and gold hoops. It's worn for all home games and some away games. It's usually worn with navy shorts. This design has been mostly the same since 1991.

In 2024, Adelaide started using a new clash guernsey. It features a flying crow design from the club's old logo. This design was inspired by a popular "stealth" style guernsey worn during Gather Round in 2023.

The club's Indigenous guernsey changes each year. It was first used in 2013. Since 2014, it has featured art by Indigenous artists and former players. The 2023 design was the first to be worn by both the women's and men's teams. The latest design celebrates the Ngarrindjeri heritage of player Izak Rankine.

In 2024, the club wore its first special ANZAC guernsey. It has military-inspired designs. It was worn in Round 7 against North Melbourne. Money from auctioned player guernseys goes to the RSL.

Past Designs

In the past, the Crows had different alternate guernseys. They briefly used a pre-season design with the club logo on the front. This design later inspired some clash and Gather Round guernseys.

The away guernsey was meant for all away games. Its design changed over the years. From 2006, it looked more like the home guernsey. Its use became less common when the "clash" guernsey was introduced. In 2008, a new away guernsey with more red and yellow and a flying crow was introduced.

The clash guernsey was first used in 2006. It was very different from the home and away designs. It was worn when the Crows' colors clashed with the home team's. It was first red, then mostly white from 2010. These designs changed over time but stayed mainly white until 2020.

Yellow and red clash guernseys were used in 2021. From 2022 to 2023, they used a red guernsey.

An alternative gold guernsey was worn in 2016 and 2017. It was used in away games where it stood out more than the home or white clash guernseys.

In the mid-2000s, the Crows wore special guernseys for "Heritage Round." In 2005, they wore a design based on an old South Australian state guernsey. This caused some controversy.

Club Song

The Adelaide Football Club's song is "The Pride of South Australia." It uses the tune of the US Marines Hymn. The club's first CEO, Bill Sanders, wrote the lyrics.

Headquarters and Training Facilities

Since 1990, Adelaide's training and offices have been at Football Park in West Lakes. They had their first training there in October 1990. Over the years, the facilities were improved with new buildings and training areas.

In 2024, the club announced they would move their training and offices to an upgraded Thebarton Oval. This new facility will have modern buildings and improved areas for all their teams.

Club Teams

AFL Team

Current Playing List and Coaching Staff

Season Summaries

AFL Women's Team

Adelaide's AFLW team prior to the 2017 match against Melbourne.

The Adelaide AFLW team is the club's women's team. They were one of the first teams in the AFL Women's league. The club worked with AFL Northern Territory to create the team in 2016.

Under coach Bec Goddard, the team won the first-ever AFLW premiership in 2017. Co-captain Erin Phillips was named the league's best player and best on ground in the Grand Final. After missing the finals in 2018, Matthew Clarke became coach.

In the 2019 season, the team won its second premiership. Erin Phillips again won the league's best player award and best on ground in the Grand Final. The partnership with AFLNT ended in 2019.

During the COVID-19-affected 2020 season, the Crows only won two games and missed the finals. But they bounced back in 2021. They finished first but lost the Grand Final to Brisbane. The next year, they won the 2022 AFL Women's season 6 Grand Final by 13 points. This was their third premiership, the most in the league!

In 2022, rival team Port Adelaide joined the women's league. The first AFLW Showdown between the two teams drew a huge crowd of over 20,000 fans. After their back-to-back premierships, Adelaide lost in the preliminary finals in 2022 (Season 7) and 2023. Despite this, Adelaide finished first on the ladder in 2023, a record four times.

Current Squad

Season Summaries

^ Denotes the ladder was split into two conferences. Figure refers to the club's overall finishing position in the home-and-away season.

SANFL Team

The Adelaide Crows were allowed to have their own reserve men's team in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) starting in 2014. Before this, AFL players who weren't chosen for the AFL team would play for other SANFL clubs.

Rivalries

Adelaide has a strong rivalry with the other South Australian AFL team, Port Adelaide. Games between them are called the Showdown. This rivalry started from the fierce competition to get the two South Australian spots in the AFL. Many people think the Showdown is the best and most intense rivalry in Australian Rules football.

Membership and Sponsorship

In 2006, the Crows made history by becoming the first VFL/AFL club with over 50,000 members. They broke that record in 2007. Their membership numbers went up and down, but reached a new high of 54,249 in 2014. In 2019, they peaked with 64,437 members. In 2022, they had 63,009 members.

The club has had a long partnership with Toyota. This led to the club sometimes being called the "Camry Crows" in promotions.

Famous tennis player Lleyton Hewitt was the club's number-one ticket holder in 2002. Pop singer Guy Sebastian became the number-one ticket holder in 2024. Other honorary members include former politician Kate Ellis and golfer Adam Scott.

Season Figures

Year	Membership		AFL				AFL Women's
			Ladder finish		Average home crowd		Ladder finish		Average home crowd
	Figure	Change	H&A	Finals	Figure	Change	H&A	Finals	Figure	Change
1991	25,087	N/A	9th	—	40,479	N/A
1992	38,673		9th	—	38,275
1993	40,100		5th	3rd	46,128
1994	40,611		11th	—	42,864
1995	41,654		11th	—	38,552
1996	42,283		12th	—	39,428
1997	41,395		4th	Premiers	40,116
1998	41,985		5th	Premiers	41,203
1999	42,120		13th	—	39,386
2000	42,896		11th	—	38,447
2001	42,014		8th	8th	39,627
2002	46,620		3rd	4th	43,068
2003	47,097		6th	5th	44,524
2004	45,642		12th	—	39,879
2005	43,256		1st	3rd	42,336
2006	50,138		2nd	3rd	42,329
2007	50,976		8th	8th	42,042
2008	48,720		5th	7th	40,678
2009	46,472		5th	5th	38,801
2010	45,545		11th	—	35,773
2011	46,520		14th	—	35,020
2012	45,105		2nd	3rd	36,829
2013	46,405		11th	—	33,703
2014	54,249		10th	—	48,046
2015	52,920		7th	6th	46,487
2016	54,307		5th	6th	47,056
2017	56,865		1st	Runners-up	47,675		2nd	Premiers	8,876	N/A
2018	64,739		12th	—	45,417		5th	—	6,037
2019	64,437		11th	—	44,514		1st (A)	Premiers	14,698
2020	54,891		18th	—	10,927		6th (A)	—	6,857
2021	60,232		15th	—	24,786		1st	Runners-up	5,811
2022	63,099		14th	—	31,429		1st	Premiers	4,731
							3rd	3rd	2,529
2023	68,536		10th	—	39,376		1st	3rd	4,181
2024	75,477		15th	—	41,421		4th	TBA

Sponsorship

AFL

AFL Women's

Honours and Records

Club Achievements

Hall of Fame

The Adelaide Football Club started its Hall of Fame in 2015. This was for its 25th year in the AFL. It celebrates people who have had a "profound" (very big) impact on the club. So far, 12 members have been inducted. These include players, administrators, and a coach.

Records

AFL Finishing Positions (1991–Present)

Premiership Teams

"Team of the Decade"

The Adelaide Crows joined the AFL in 1991. So, they named their "Team of the Decade" for the years 1991 to 2000. Mark Ricciuto was named 'Player of the Decade'. Mark Bickley was named 'Team Man of the Decade'.

Coaches

• Graham Cornes, 1991–1994
• Robert Shaw, 1995–1996
• Malcolm Blight, 1997–1999
• Gary Ayres, 2000–2004*
• Neil Craig, 2004–2011**
• Mark Bickley, 2011 (interim)
• Brenton Sanderson, 2012–2014
• Phil Walsh, 2015***
• Scott Camporeale, 2015 (interim)
• Don Pyke, 2016–2019
• Matthew Nicks, 2020–present

*Gary Ayres left his coaching role in 2004. Assistant coach Neil Craig took over for the rest of the season and then became the main coach.

**Neil Craig resigned in 2011. Assistant coach Mark Bickley coached the last six games. Brenton Sanderson became the new coach in 2012.

***Phil Walsh passed away during his first year as coach. Assistant coach Scott Camporeale became the temporary coach. Don Pyke was appointed senior coach from 2016.

Captains

• Chris McDermott, 1991–1994
• Tony McGuinness, 1995–1996
• Mark Bickley, 1997–2000
• Mark Ricciuto, 2001–2007
• Simon Goodwin, 2008–2010
• Nathan van Berlo, 2011–2014*
• Taylor Walker, 2015–2019**
• Rory Sloane, 2019–2022**
• Jordan Dawson, 2023–present

*Nathan van Berlo missed all of 2014 due to injury. Rory Sloane and Patrick Dangerfield were co-captains during that time.

**Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane were co-captains in 2019. After the season, Walker stepped down, and Sloane became the sole captain.

Past Players

See List of Adelaide Football Club players

Pre-season Competition Wins

See Also

In Spanish: Adelaide Football Club para niños

• Adelaide Football Club coaches
• List of Adelaide Football Club players
• Australian rules football in South Australia
• History of the Adelaide Football Club
• Sport in Australia
• Sport in South Australia
• Category:Adelaide Football Club players