Port Adelaide Versus Adelaide Showdown XXXIV

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Sun 14 Apr 2013

This Sunday the harmonious city of Adelaide becomes divided with tensions on a knife edge when Port Adelaide hosts the Crows in Showdown 34 at 4:10 pm.

In my family, choosing which football side to support was the equivalent of choosing a religious faith. Three days after my birth my parents were in heated discussions on how I should be raised. "He will be baptised," my mother insisted. "He will support Sturt Football Club," my atheist father responded. A year later the Adelaide Crows entered the AFL competition and my mother put her foot down. "He will support the Crows then," she said.

Indoctrinated at an early age, dressed in double blues colours for SANFL matches and wrapped in red, yellow and blue knitted blankets at AFL matches, I soon learnt these were the two teams to believe in.

In 1997, a team with a funny lighting bolt and a terrible song entered the competition. I didn't know much about them but Rod Jameson was punching the living daylights out of one of them, so I knew they were the enemy.

Since then, showdowns have been the most anticipated game of the season. Anyone who suggests that it's just another game has clearly never experienced the atmosphere and passion of supporters.

I'm nervous for my team. Port has started the season really well and Patrick Dangerfield's shoulders must be sore from carrying the Crows last week against Brisbane.

My favourite showdown memory was Gary Ayres's first showdown win as coach. In round 7, 2000, Port led by 25 points at three quarter time. I had lost all hope. Port fans continued to antagonise me. I played my part as the 19th man starting an "Adelaide" war-cry. The ever witty Port supporters added "suck" to my chant and I considered going home early to beat the traffic. Then another number 32 by the name Mark Riccuito single-handedly lifted his team. I've never seen anything like it, bursting through packs and kicking goals from 60 metres.

Stuck on Tapley's Hill road for an eternity didn't faze me, I had witnessed the greatest comeback since the Mighty Ducks beat the Hawks in my favourite Disney movie.

Tickets for this Sunday's game are still available at Ticket Master where another Showdown memory could be created.

Share your favourite Showdown memory.

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!date 14/04/2013 -- 14/04/2013
%wnadelaide