1997 AFL Grand Final — Adelaide Crows’ First AFL Flag

The 1997 AFL Grand Final saw Adelaide Crows defeat St Kilda 19.11 (125) to 13.16 (94) at the MCG — a 31-point margin that delivered the Crows their first AFL premiership. Played on 27 September 1997 in front of 99,645 fans, Adelaide’s flag was an emotional release for South Australian supporters and confirmed Malcolm Blight’s coaching tenure as a roaring success. Andrew McLeod won the Norm Smith Medal; the Saints’ Grand Final hex continued.

The Build-Up: Crows’ Breakthrough

Adelaide had entered the AFL in 1991 and progressively built a contending squad. The 1997 home-and-away campaign saw the Crows top the ladder with new coach Malcolm Blight (who’d taken over in 1997 after Graham Cornes’s tenure). Mark Ricciuto, Andrew McLeod, Tony Modra, Darren Jarman, Mark Bickley — the squad was ready.

St Kilda, under Stan Alves, had reached the Grand Final after a remarkable season. Robert Harvey was at his peak; Tony Lockett (who’d transferred to Sydney by then — actually Lockett had moved to Sydney in 1995) wasn’t with the Saints anymore, but Stewart Loewe was a key forward. The Saints’ last flag had been 1966.

The Match: Crows’ Coronation

Adelaide started fast. Andrew McLeod’s class, Tony Modra’s contested marking, and Darren Jarman’s wing brilliance set the tempo. Modra kicked 5 goals; McLeod was outstanding throughout the match.

By half-time the Crows led by 25 points. The third quarter extended the margin. St Kilda’s fourth-quarter resistance was admirable but futile.

Final score: Adelaide 19.11 (125) defeated St Kilda 13.16 (94) — a 31-point margin.

The Norm Smith Medal: Andrew McLeod

The 1997 Norm Smith went to Andrew McLeod of Adelaide. McLeod’s 26 disposals, 1 goal, and class around the stoppage earned the recognition. McLeod was a heritage Crow whose career would span both the 1997 and 1998 flags (Norm Smith both years).

The Premiership Coach: Malcolm Blight (First)

Malcolm Blight collected his first Jock McHale Medal in 1997. Blight had taken over as Adelaide coach in 1997 — a one-year-old appointment delivering a flag in his debut season.

Famous Moments

• Andrew McLeod’s 26 disposals — Norm Smith winning.
• Tony Modra’s 5 goals — Crows’ spearhead.
• Darren Jarman’s wing brilliance.
• Mark Ricciuto’s midfield class.
• Mark Bickley’s veteran presence.
• Robert Harvey’s defiant 32 disposals — Saints’ captain.
• Stewart Loewe’s 3 goals — Saints’ key forward in defeat.
• The 31-point Adelaide winning margin.
• Malcolm Blight’s emotional debut-year Cup lift.
• The Crows’ supporters’ celebrations — first AFL flag.

Trivia for the Pub

• Date: 27 September 1997, MCG.
• Final: Adelaide 19.11 (125) defeated St Kilda 13.16 (94).
• Margin: 31 points.
• Crowd: 99,645.
• Norm Smith: Andrew McLeod (first of two consecutive).
• Jock McHale: Malcolm Blight (first of two).
• Adelaide’s 1st AFL premiership.
• St Kilda’s continuing Grand Final hex (1908, 1913, 1965, 1971, 1997).
• Blight’s debut-year coaching delivery.
• The first South Australian club to win AFL.

The Verdict

The 1997 AFL Grand Final was Adelaide’s coronation as the AFL’s first South Australian premier. Andrew McLeod’s Norm Smith, Malcolm Blight’s debut-year flag, and the Crows’ first AFL premiership — all combined for a landmark Grand Final. Long live the 1997 Crows.

For St Kilda, the 1997 Grand Final loss was painful and continued the long Grand Final hex. The Saints’ 1966 flag remained their only one; the next Grand Final loss would come in 2009 (Geelong by 12) and 2010 (Collingwood after a draw).

The 1997 result also confirmed AFL national expansion. After Brisbane Bears (later Lions) had been the league’s first non-Melbourne expansion, Adelaide’s flag was the first non-Melbourne premiership of the modern era. The template for non-Victorian success was laid down — West Coast had already done it (1992, 1994), but Adelaide’s 1997 win in their seventh AFL season established the model.