The club’s No 19 guernsey was retired and handed over to the members by captain Simon Goodwin to symbolise the importance of the fans to Adelaide’s team success in season 2009 and beyond.
Daryl Carter, President of the Crows Supporters Group, accepted the guernsey on behalf of Adelaide's members.
Crows commercial operations general manager Phil Harper said the collective strength of the AFL’s largest membership could provide significant advantage to the team, especially at home games.
“In recent years our coach and the players have often spoken about the lift they can get from the crowd, and some have said it can be like having an extra player on the field,” he said.
“With the ‘19th man’ we are going to take this to a new level. The club sees its members and supporters as a powerful force that provides a distinct advantage at home games. The club wants to continue to embrace this advantage as well as enhancing it and giving the members and supporters a challenge to measure the success of their support and benefit they provide as the 19th Man. We want our members and supporters to be our extra man.”
The “19th Man” (a registered trademark owned by the AFC) is based on similar concepts used by sporting clubs in the United States – perhaps most famously the “12th man” used by the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks - and in the United Kingdom.
Senior coach Neil Craig praised the concept: “It’s a great idea. Our members and supporters have been fantastic for us but this is an opportunity to formalise the relationship. They are a powerful weapon and it will be exciting to see the ‘19th man’ in action from the start of the 2009 season.”
Some of the initiatives revolving around the “19th man” concept to be introduced include:
• the No 19 jumper will be retired.
• on the No 19 locker there will be recognition of the club’s members and supporters.
• a “19th man” flag will be raised before each home game by a current member and either a Club Ambassador or a former player.
• the new facility will feature Bar 19 as the main members’ bar.
• The Members’ Most Valuable Player award, presented at the Club Champion night, will be renamed as the ‘19th Man’ award.
• The number 19 will be subtly used in all membership giveaways and paraphernalia (eg caps, bags, pens, scarves etc).
A survey will be sent to members over the summer asking for suggestions on how the “19th Man” can be used to provide the club with an advantage.
