Macpotata
Norm Smith Medallist
- Mar 22, 2017
- 9,595
- 10,877
- AFL Club
- Geelong
Could the Crows of 97 do what their counterparts 20 years later couldn't? It would be a great hypothetical match up. The Crows had a modest 13-9 record to finish the home and away season in comparison to Richmond's 15-7. Both sides had 6-5 records away from home though it must be noted a couple of those Richmond losses were in Melbourne due to playing fellow Victorian tenants. Richmond scored 1992 points in total at the end of the home and away year, let in 1684 boasting a percentage of 118.3. Adelaide amassed a grand total of 2151 and conceded 1769 yielding a percentage of 121.6. The part that matters most however is in finals and both these sides had some of the best campaigns I've witnessed, or at least the most memorable. Adelaide was a force that couldn't be stopped and become the first side ever to win 4 finals. They even chased down a deficit of 7 goals just to get to the Grand Final, ironic as four years prior they coughed up that lead in the same game. Faced adversity in overcoming a very good St.Kilda side and chased down a handy four goal handicap. In the 1997 Grand Final it was staggering that they triumphed with relative ease in the end missing big game players and big stars in general Tony Modra and Mark Riccuito. Darren Jarman destroyed the opp in the last term snagging 5 majors as the Adelaide Crows broke through for their first flag after joining the competition 6 years prior, a great triumph by an interstate side.
The Tigers were a team like the Crows who hit their straps at the right time with no one getting near them. Geelong, the Giants and Adelaide all tasted humiliating losses on the biggest stage as the Punt Road boys roared to victory. Dustin Martin became the first player in the history of the game to win a Brownlow and premiership medal in the same week, and, conjure a Norm Smith. He was blistering during September as Cotchin and Co put on a stellar display leaving their opponents dazed and confused.
Take a look at the teams and let's not forget who the Crows had. A blistering ball magnet of their own in Andrew McLeod. He would win b2b Norm Smith's as his side repeated again the very next year. This is the 97 team however, so I will base my assumption on this season and this season alone { as should you } Caven, Hart, Jameson and Smart in defence with Bickley, Connell, Koster, Johnson as well as others forming the mid. Richmond had the great Rance in defence with Houli who roams off half back, can play midfield and also surge forward. Richmond have spearhead Jack Riewoldt leading the line with a host of many other forwards chipping in like Rioli, Castagna, Butler { the smalls } and others like Caddy and Townsend to name a few.
It's a hard match up as both were obviously the best sides in the finals, for Adelaide, not throughout the home and away season. When it's all said and done it does only matter what you produce in September and they both were unstoppable and did it in different ways. The Crows took whatever adversity the football gods put in their wake and overcome it in testing battles against Geelong, the Doggies, and again vs the Saints while the Tigers belted the living daylights out of the three opponents mentioned. Adelaide did win on Victorian soil, something the Adelaide Crows of 20 years later failed to do. The 97 Crows faced the likes of Brownlow Medallist Robert Harvey, Nathan Burke, Aussie Jones and a formidable front line of Hall and Heatley. Nicky Winmar was badly out of form on the day while Stewie Loewe still conjured up two goals, two other bigger names for the Saints. This is how I have it if they brought their best form going into Grand Final day.
After a tense first term which saw both sides kick two a piece in the first 20, the Tiges nail a couple through Rioli and Riewoldt to hold a two goal lead. Right before quarter time the Crows pull one back through Troy Bond. Richmond leads 4.3 to 3.4 at quarter time.
The second quarter and much like the first it's pretty even. 3 goals each added in the 2nd before the Crows goal right on half time making it honours even going into the main change. 7.6 a piece.
The third term and much like the grand final of 97, the Crows eventually take control in the second part of the 3rd term. Mcleod and Johnson start to win the midfield battle, and after trailing by a couple in the early stages of the premiership quarter, Adelaide's dominance reigns true as they hold a 14 point advantage with a quarter to spare. They lead it 12.11 to 10.9
The last quarter and you know where this is heading. Sorry Richmond fans, but when you think of Darren Jarman, you think of Mike Tyson, and It's lights out folks. Darren Jarman closes the show and forces Tiger despair as he bags not quite the 5 that he got in 97, but the modern day five, which is three. He does finish with 5 for the game though as the Adelaide Crows pull away quite convincingly in the end as they often did when the chocolates were on the table mustering out a 18.14 to 13.11 Victory. When you go toe to toe with the Crow, down you go.
Norm Smith - 3 from 3 for Andrew.
Goals - Jarman 5 Bond 3 Mcleod 2 Ellen 2
Richmond - Riewoldt 3 Rioli 2 Martin 2 Caddy 2
Crows of 97 won against all the best sides that year come September. But the last two times, they did it on the MCG. Adelaide was a force that quite simply, were irrepressible.
The Tigers were a team like the Crows who hit their straps at the right time with no one getting near them. Geelong, the Giants and Adelaide all tasted humiliating losses on the biggest stage as the Punt Road boys roared to victory. Dustin Martin became the first player in the history of the game to win a Brownlow and premiership medal in the same week, and, conjure a Norm Smith. He was blistering during September as Cotchin and Co put on a stellar display leaving their opponents dazed and confused.
Take a look at the teams and let's not forget who the Crows had. A blistering ball magnet of their own in Andrew McLeod. He would win b2b Norm Smith's as his side repeated again the very next year. This is the 97 team however, so I will base my assumption on this season and this season alone { as should you } Caven, Hart, Jameson and Smart in defence with Bickley, Connell, Koster, Johnson as well as others forming the mid. Richmond had the great Rance in defence with Houli who roams off half back, can play midfield and also surge forward. Richmond have spearhead Jack Riewoldt leading the line with a host of many other forwards chipping in like Rioli, Castagna, Butler { the smalls } and others like Caddy and Townsend to name a few.
It's a hard match up as both were obviously the best sides in the finals, for Adelaide, not throughout the home and away season. When it's all said and done it does only matter what you produce in September and they both were unstoppable and did it in different ways. The Crows took whatever adversity the football gods put in their wake and overcome it in testing battles against Geelong, the Doggies, and again vs the Saints while the Tigers belted the living daylights out of the three opponents mentioned. Adelaide did win on Victorian soil, something the Adelaide Crows of 20 years later failed to do. The 97 Crows faced the likes of Brownlow Medallist Robert Harvey, Nathan Burke, Aussie Jones and a formidable front line of Hall and Heatley. Nicky Winmar was badly out of form on the day while Stewie Loewe still conjured up two goals, two other bigger names for the Saints. This is how I have it if they brought their best form going into Grand Final day.
After a tense first term which saw both sides kick two a piece in the first 20, the Tiges nail a couple through Rioli and Riewoldt to hold a two goal lead. Right before quarter time the Crows pull one back through Troy Bond. Richmond leads 4.3 to 3.4 at quarter time.
The second quarter and much like the first it's pretty even. 3 goals each added in the 2nd before the Crows goal right on half time making it honours even going into the main change. 7.6 a piece.
The third term and much like the grand final of 97, the Crows eventually take control in the second part of the 3rd term. Mcleod and Johnson start to win the midfield battle, and after trailing by a couple in the early stages of the premiership quarter, Adelaide's dominance reigns true as they hold a 14 point advantage with a quarter to spare. They lead it 12.11 to 10.9
The last quarter and you know where this is heading. Sorry Richmond fans, but when you think of Darren Jarman, you think of Mike Tyson, and It's lights out folks. Darren Jarman closes the show and forces Tiger despair as he bags not quite the 5 that he got in 97, but the modern day five, which is three. He does finish with 5 for the game though as the Adelaide Crows pull away quite convincingly in the end as they often did when the chocolates were on the table mustering out a 18.14 to 13.11 Victory. When you go toe to toe with the Crow, down you go.
Norm Smith - 3 from 3 for Andrew.
Goals - Jarman 5 Bond 3 Mcleod 2 Ellen 2
Richmond - Riewoldt 3 Rioli 2 Martin 2 Caddy 2
Crows of 97 won against all the best sides that year come September. But the last two times, they did it on the MCG. Adelaide was a force that quite simply, were irrepressible.
