The South Australian clubs decided to enter yesteryear and award six players from the first half-dozen Showdowns best on ground medals, which were previously missed as part of the marquee occasion.
Debuted in 1997, the highly-anticipated clash between Port Adelaide and Adelaide failed to reward any player for the first six encounters between the two clubs, which since 2000, has been dubbed the 'West End Medal' before what is now the Showdown Medal.
Three-time recipients Mark Ricciuto and Josh Francou added more silverware to their glowing cabinets, after a judging panel deemed them worthy of a fourth medallion.
Ricciuto was awarded the first medal in 2000, and added one in 2004 and 2005 before claiming one in retrospect over two decades ago, played in Round 19, 1998.
Francou's first and second medals came in the two 2001 clashes, and then added to in the following year. Yesterday's announcement saw him get the nod for his performance in the 1999 Round 21 game.
Darren Mead (1997, Round 4), Brett James (1997, Round 19), Adam Kingsley (Round 4, 1998) and Mark Bickley (Round 6, 1999) were also recognised for their efforts in the rivalry before the turn of the century.
Crows CEO Tim Silvers acknowledged the judging panel for their efforts in completing the history between the two clubs, saying the players helped lay down the foundation for the AFL's fiercest rivalry.
"It's great to see these champions from both clubs finally celebrated for their individual brilliance and reflect on their performances, as well as the games themselves," Silvers said.
"Showdowns quite rightly hold a special place on the football calendar, and the games played in the late 90s featured some of the all-time greats."
Power CEO Matthew Richardson shared a similar sentiment to Silvers.
"Congratulations to all six recipients of these Showdown Medals. Each one has played an important role in building the significance of this game and the rivalry all of South Australia embrace today," Richardson said.
"The legacies of these Showdown Medallists are now appropriately recognised and their stories forever part of the Showdown history."
The judging panel included representatives who were involved in the media for the first six Showdowns in the late 1990s. They were Graham Cornes, Kym Dillon, Bruce Abernethy, Chris Dittmar, David Wildy, David Burtenshaw and Michelangelo Rucci.
Port Adelaide's Robbie Gray currently holds the record for the most Showdown Medals, winning five between 2010 and 2019.
