The history
Since Port Adelaide's AFL debut in 1997, the Showdown has been played 56 times. Port lead the head-to-head 30 wins to 26. The Showdown Medal, awarded to the best player on the ground, was introduced in 2003. The rivalry transcends results — Showdown crowds at Adelaide Oval consistently push 50,000 and the build-up dominates Adelaide media for the full week.