Gladys Bond, our oldest supporter, has passed away at the age of 106.

Gladys died on Sunday in Quorn surrounded by her family.

Gladys thrilled the Adelaide Oval crowd in Round 23 last year when she walked out into the centre of the ground to toss the coin for Adelaide's fina home game of the season against St Kilda.

Composed and steady on her feet, with support from her daughter Yvonne, Gladys walked the 60 metres to the centre circle where she shook hands with the umpires and awaited the captains.

Rory Sloane was first to greet Gladys with a warm handshake and huge smile, followed by St Kilda’s captain Nick Riewoldt who towered over her as he respectfully introduced himself.

As the away captain, Riewoldt called the toss and called heads.

Gladys stepped forward and tossed the coin with such vigour that it flew well over the head of the officiating umpire much to the amusement of both captains.

The coin landed on heads – just as Gladys had promised Sloane it would when she met him and the rest of the team at the Crows’ closed training session earlier that week, where Patrick Dangerfield presented her with a huge bouquet of Crows coloured flowers.

Gladys took her time leaving the field, looking up to see herself on the giant screens, enjoying the warm applause from the crowd, blowing kisses and waving as she left the oval.

“I will never, ever forget this,” Gladys said.

“This is wonderful. This whole day has been wonderful. I never thought I would get to do this.”

Gladys is survived by her four children, nine grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 16 great-great grandchildren.



Gladys Bond tossed the coin at Adelaide's final home game of Season 2014