Football was about to change forever, at least in South Australia.
Port Adelaide - innovative and progressive to its own faithful supporters, treacherous to the rest of the state - had moved to join the expanding VFL/AFL competition in 1990.
It was a move blocked by court injunctions from the other SANFL clubs while the League moved to create a composite franchise to represent the state - that team would debut the following year and be called the Adelaide Crows.
1990's Grand Final was a battle for bragging rights, pride and to stick it up the loser more than ever.
If Glenelg won, it would be seen as a just punishment for Port Adelaide's so-called treachery.
If Port won, it would justify its entry and cement its position as the dominant force of South Australian football.
As they say, the rest its history.
In a spiteful match with numerous off-the-ball bouts, both teams wrestled for control early in the game.
Glenelg won the first bout and went into quarter time with a three-point advantage, despite the Magpies leading the scoring shots nine to seven.
Port clicked up a gear in the second term.
It kicked six goals to one to open up a comfortable four-goal lead and never looked back.
Led by a six-goal performance from Scott Hodges and a Jack Oatey Medal-winning demolition by George Fiacchi, the Magpies
cruised to the final siren to win a crucial final in the psychology of South Australian football.
Scott Hodges set a new goalkicking record with his haul on the day - finishing with 153 for the season and adding the accolade to his Magarey Medal for the 1990 season.
Also featuring in the final were a number of faces who would be prominent in Port Adelaide folklore for many years to come.
The club's respective AFL and SANFL premiership coaches Mark and Stephen Williams took the field and kicked a goal apiece, while a young Gavin Wangaeen kicked two thrilling goals ahead of his eventual move to Essendon.
Tomorrow we reveal your number eight in our Footy Park Flashbacks as well as feature an exclusive column from SANFL premiership coach and the Power's first AFL coach, John Cahill.
FINAL SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 4.5 10.7 13.9 16.12 (108)
GLENELG 5.2 6.7 9.11 13.15 (93)
Best: G. Fiacchi, D. Hynes, G. Phillips, M. Williams, S. Tregenza, S. Hodges
Goals: S. Hodges 6, A. Settre 3, D. Smith, G. Wanganeen 2, W. Mahney, S. Williams, M. Williams
Captain: R. Johnston
Coach: J. Cahill
Jack Oatey Medal: G. Fiacchi
Crowd: 50,589 at Football Park
