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The Showdown is a term used to refer to the derby match between local rivals the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide in the sport of Australian rules football in the Australian Football League.

A panoramic view of the Football Park during showdown XXIV in 2008.

Background

The Adelaide Crows joined the AFL in 1991, and Port Adelaide^[1] joined in 1997. The South Australian Brewing Company, makers of West End beers, decided that the "Showdown" would be an appropriate name as a promotional opportunity for games between these two clubs, since it was the first time two South Australian teams had played against each other in the AFL.

West End no longer holds naming rights to the Showdown as the Adelaide Crows changed their beer sponsor to the Victorian based Carlton and United Beverages brands in 2005. The game is now sponsored by Balfours.

Port beat the Crows in the inaugural Showdown in 1997. Having won their first match in the AFL against Geelong the week before, a pumped up Port jumped the Crows in the first half and managed to hold on in the final quarter as the Crows mounted a comeback. The game also featured a fight between Port's Scott Cummings and Adelaide's Rod Jameson.

In the 2005 AFL Finals Series, Adelaide and Port Adelaide met in a semi-final, the first time in their history they had played against each other in a finals game. What was billed as a tight contest turned out to be a fizzer, with Adelaide thrashing Port Adelaide by 83 points.

Showdowns are referred to by their number, eg. Showdown X for the tenth game between the clubs. Only matches during the Premiership Season or Finals Series are given this distinction. Pre-season matches are often referred to as Showdowns, but are not officially given the title. There have been 27 games played between the clubs, with Port Adelaide leading the Crows 14-13 on match wins at the end of the 2009 season.^[2]

History of the series

In the 27 showdowns to date the Power lead the all time series 14-13. The longest winning streak belongs to Port who beat the Crows 7 times, the first win was recorded in round 22 of 2000 (Showdown VIII) while the last of the 7 wins was recorded in round 22 of 2003 (Showdown XIV). Since then the Crows have a 9-4 advantage over the Power.

Year by Year & Overall Standings

Results

Showdown I - X

Showdown XI - XX

Showdown XXI - XXVII

Statistics

Scoring

• As of Round 16, 2008, overall scores sit at 323.292 (2230) for Adelaide and 304.271 (2095) for Port.

• In their 12 wins to date, Adelaide has an average winning margin of 32.83 points, while Port averages 19.92 for its 13 wins. The average winning margin of all Showdowns to date is 27.21 points.

• The highest score in a Showdown is 23.15 (153) by Port in Showdown IX. The lowest score is 5.10 (40), also by Port in Showdown XIX (2005 Semi Final). The Crows' highest score is 22.12 (144) in Showdown IV, and their lowest score is 9.6 (60) in Showdown XVI.

• The highest winning margin by Adelaide is 83 points in Showdown XIX, 18.15 (123) to 5.10 (40). The highest winning margin by Port is 65 points in Showdown IX, 23.15 (153) to 13.10 (88).

• The lowest winning margin by Adelaide is 6 points in Showdown XXIV, 12.13 (85) to 11.13 (79). The lowest winning margin by Port is 8 points, on three consecutive occasions - Showdown X, 16.11 (107) to 15.9 (99); Showdown XI, 14.6 (90) to 12.10 (82); and Showdown XII, 12.12 (84) to 11.10 (76)

• The longest winning streak by Adelaide is 4 (Showdowns XVII - XX). The longest winning streak by Port is 7 (Showdowns VIII - XIV).

• Adelaide currently kicks with a 52.52% accuracy at goal, and Port 52.87%.

• Close games are common. 9 of the 25 matches up to 2008 have been decided by less than 10 points and a further 5 matches decided by 16 points or less.

Attendances

• In the 26 Showdowns, 1,154,965 people have so far attended matches, with crowds between 31,662 (Showdown XV) and 51,140 (Showdown XIII) and averaging 44,536.28 people.
• The Crows' attendances range from 40,296 (Showdown IX) to 51,140 (Showdown XIII) and average 45,710.54. So far 594,237 people have attended Crows home matches in which Crows fans usually make up about 90% of the crowd.
• Port's attendances range from 31,662 (Showdown XV) to 50,275 (Showdown XII). So far 560,728 people have attended Port home matches. In recent years, Crows' fans decided to boycott Port Adelaide home showdowns.

References and notes

See also

• West End Slowdown
• Western Derby