Andrew McLeod, v St Kilda at the MCG, September 27 1997
In 1997, Andrew McLeod was still skipping under the radar on a national level. In the year that he became the youngest winner of Adelaide’s club champion award, he only polled one Brownlow Medal vote and was overlooked for All Australian selection. Crows fans were well aware of his mercurial talents - and by the end of the 1997 finals series, the rest of the football world had taken notice.
McLeod had been an important contributor right through September but he took it to a new level on the biggest day. He started brilliantly at half-back against dangerous St Kilda forward Matthew Lappin and then lifted the struggling Crows when shifted into the midfield during the second term.
He was the Crows’ busiest and most effective player in the first half, with 15 possessions, and then continued to dominate as Adelaide forged to the front before kicking away to a 31-point win. When the final siren sounded, McLeod had the football. And a few minutes late he had the Norm Smith Medal around his neck. “The last two guys to have come from the NT to play in a grand final (Maurice Rioli and Michael Long) had won the Norm Smith so that put the pressure on me at the start,” admitted McLeod, who finished with 31 possessions.
Andrew McLeod, v North Melbourne at the MCG, September 26 1998
A year later the element of surprise was no longer with McLeod. And he confirmed the threat by bagging seven goals in the preliminary final win over the Western Bulldogs. But another Norm Smith Medal? Surely that would be at long odds against the might of North Melbourne.
This time McLeod started at half-forward, where he caused so much damage the previous week. But as in 1997, McLeod moved into the midfield in the second term and started to create scoring opportunities. His 30 touches and nine clearances helped turn the game, with the Crows recovering from a 24-point half-time deficit to lead by two points at the last change and then storm to a 35-point lead and a second premiership. A second Norm Smith Medal was heading McLeod’s way and once again he sat next to coach Malcolm Blight at the post-match press conference. “I think Andrew McLeod is writing his own football history,” Blight said. “Where that goes is entirely up to him, but I’ve got a fair idea it will be okay.”
These are the 16th and 17th nominations in a 19-part series to find the greatest individual performances by Crows footballers.
Previous nominations: Peter Vardy’s six-goal effort in the 1998 second semi-final; Darren Jarman’s 1997 grand final; Tony Modra’s 13 goals against Carlton in the opening round of 1994; Mark Ricciuto for Showdown VII in 2000; Jason Porplyzia’s courageous effort at the SCG in 2008; Shane Ellen’s surprise 1997 grand final; Shaun Rehn’s dominant wet weather game in July 1998; David Marshall’s AFL debut in Adelaide’s first game in 1991; Tony McGuinness for last minor round of 1993; Matthew Robran’s six goals in the 1998 preliminary final; Ben Rutten’s 2005 Showdown final; Ricciuto’s inspirational effort against Carlton in 2001; Mark Bickley versus Sydney in 1993; Modra’s matchwinning 10 goals v North Melbourne in 1993; Tyson Edwards’ 300th AFL game.
