The Brisbane Bears and the Adelaide Crows joined the AFL five years, and a world apart. The difference of their circumstances is indescribable, with a pioneering group in the unchartered territory of Queensland and what was virtually a South Australian State team in a football-mad environment.

And it showed. On their first visit to Football Park in 1991 the Bears copped an 11-goal hiding. Twelve months later it was 10 goals. And in their third visit it was a heart-breaking three-point loss when, with a host of senior players missing, they hit back from 28 points down at quarter-time to get nine points up and lose by three.

So when finally they posted their first win in the City of Churches in Round 17 1995 it was a big deal. And is the headline story for the ‘Remember When – Round 17’ flashback this week.

It was the week after the record-breaking 45-point comeback win over Hawthorn at the Gabba. A 14^th-placed Brisbane, three games outside the top eight, headed south to meet 10^th-placed Adelaide, who were two wins better off as both walked a tightrope to the finals.

Cold, wet and windy conditions awaited the team from the Sunshine State as they prepared for a rare Sunday night game against a rejuvenated Crows side after snap a three-game losing streak.

It didn’t matter. With renewed confidence levels, the Bears were better in every department. Fanatical in their commitment to the ball and to each other, they posted a win more comprehensive than the final scoreline of 11-10 (76) to 6-10 (46) suggests.

They held the Crows goalless as the home side kicked with the wind in the first quarter, piled on five goals in 13 minutes in the second quarter to take command, and outscored the Crows into the wind in the third.

It was all over, but the three-quarter time address of coach Robert Walls in torrential rain was inspirational stuff. A moment never forgotten by the wet souls on hand to hear it.

Craig McRae, a South Australian playing his 17^th game and his first in his home state, kicked four goals as 15 different players polled in the club championship. Adrian Fletcher topped the possession count with 26 and a goal, Nathan Chapman was superb down back, young South Australian Matthew Clarke out-pointed Shaun Rehn in the ruck, and Michael Voss starred in the midfield and was dangerous floating forward.

It was the second win in what would be a 6-1 streak that took the Bears all the way to the finals for the first time in coach Walls’ last season. The star-studded Crows finished 11^th.

1999 – Good Turns Into Better

In Leigh Matthews’ first season in charge in 1999 the Brisbane Lions played West Coast at the Gabba in Round 16. They kicked 10-6 to 1-2 in the first quarter and maintained the rage to beat the power club from the west 166 - 66.

It was the club’s first 100-point win post-merger after the Bears had enjoyed two triple-figure wins, and remains Brisbane’s biggest win over the club with which they joined the competition in 1987.

And it was a turning point moment. The Lions were 5^th on the ladder at the time, but three weeks earlier they’d failed what was billed as a big test when they met a then 3^rd-placed North Melbourne and lost by two points. This was another big test against an Eagles side that had moved to 3^rd. And this time there was no slip-up.

It was the club’s first win of the year over a top-five opposition in the seventh Gabba sell-out of the year, and suddenly the football world was starting to take the 1998 wooden spooners seriously after The Courier-Mail thought enough of the win to splash it all over page one.

And all that after legendary comic Jerry Lewis had been proclaimed the club’s No.1 International Ticket-Holder, accepting a No.1 Lions jumper with “LEWIS” on the back before he tossed the coin to start the game.

2001 – The Maturing Lions

Things were starting to roll at the Gabba in 2001, as the Lions won seven in a row to climb from 9^th to 2^nd at Round 16. But Round 17 against 11^th-placed North at Marvel Stadium presented a few problems when they trailed at every change.

It was as many as 25 points early in the third quarter and still 16 points shortly before the last break. But after Tim Notting and Craig McRae kicked steading goals the Lions kicked 6-0 to 2-2 in the fourth quarter for a 21-10 (136) to 18-7 (115) win.

It was a sign of the new-found resilience in the Lions as they built towards the historic premiership that would come nine weeks later. Michael Voss took three Brownlow Medal votes as Daniel Bradshaw kicked six goals, and Notting and McRae four each – they kicked 14-1 between them.

2004 – An Obliteration at the Gabba

Nine years after the Lions had posted their first win in Adelaide over the Crows they took the rivalry with the club that goes by the title ‘the pride of South Australia’ to an entirely new level. They obliterated them in what remains the Crows’ biggest loss in now 725 games.

There were no clues at halftime of what was to come when the home side led 59 - 30. But they piled on 10 goals in the third quarter and 11 more in the fourth for a staggering 21 goal to 2 second half.

Eighteen years on the eventual scoreline of 29-15 (189) to 6-12 (48) remains the club’s highest score and biggest win post-merger.

Jason Akermanis, with 35 possessions and four goals (all in the final quarter), received three Brownlow votes, while Simon Black (27 possessions, two goals) took two votes and Luke Power (31 possessions) one vote. Alastair Lynch kicked six goals.

It was a dream debut for 18-year-old Michael Rischitelli, who had eight possessions and two goals.

2013 – First Game in Darwin

In Round 17 2013 the Lions made their first visit to Darwin. It was the 14^th game overall in the NT capital, which had been hosting AFL football since 2004. It was the 18^th different ground at which the club had played and despite adding seven different grounds to the all-time travel log it is still the club’s only game in Darwin

Brisbane (13^th) played Melbourne (17^th) in Michael Voss’ fifth season as coach, and after trailing by nine points at the first change prevailed 13-16 (94) to 11-9 (75). Tom Rockliff (34 possessions), Pearce Hanley (27 possessions) and Jack Redden (26 possessions, two goals) took the medal votes.

And the seven grounds added to the list since then? Adelaide Oval, Wellington, Sydney Showgrounds, the new Perth Stadium, Ballarat, Cairns and Hobart.