SHOWDOWN XXXIX has attracted the biggest ever AFL crowd at Adelaide Oval.

A total of 54,468 people flocked to the oval to watch the Power meet for the first time since the tragic passing of Phil Walsh.

Thousands made their way to the gates at the crack of dawn to snag a seat at the blockbuster clash.

The Port Adelaide home game shattered the previous record of 52,505 which was from the Power’s Round 22 clash with Carlton in 2014.

Port Adelaide has also been involved in four of the top five AFL crowd attendances at Adelaide Oval.

The highest recorded crowd at the oval since its redevelopment was at the cricket semi final between the Strikers and Sixers earlier in 2015 with 52,633 people.

The emotionally-charged game was officially declared a sellout on Wednesday.

In conjunction with membership partner RAA, Port Adelaide will donate $10,000 to the Childhood Cancer Association for reaching a crowd above 50,000 people.

Top Adelaide Oval AFL crowds
R16, 2014 – Port Adelaide v Adelaide – 54,468
R22, 2014 – Port Adelaide v Carlton – 52,505
R10, 2014 – Port Adelaide v Hawthorn – 52,233
R15, 2014 – Adelaide v Port Adelaide – 50,552
R21, 2014 – Adelaide v Richmond – 50,459