IT was the night the Adelaide Football Club discovered its soul.

The bringing together of club legends, administrators and past and current players at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre last Wednesday signalled a major step forward in the Crows’ desire to embrace their 25-year history.

Now Rod Jameson, a former star and the reigning past players and officials board chairman, is leading his board’s charge to better recognise every player that has worn the Adelaide tricolours, and to ensure they are looked after beyond their playing days.

Two hundred and two players have played an AFL match for Adelaide, and Jameson — in an AFL first — is attempting to have all of them sign the guernsey number they wore into battle. The jumpers will hang with pride at the club’s West Lakes headquarters as testament to their contributions.

It is a mammoth task, with former Crows’ players spread all over Australia.

But Jameson, who ranks 17th in games played at Adelaide with 153 and was a member of the club’s first premiership team in 1997, is on a mission to help cultivate the club’s history and close the gap between current and former Crows.

This will culminate with the past players and key football department people forming a guard of honour for the team when it runs on to Adelaide Oval to play premier Hawthorn — the club which Adelaide famously thrashed in its first match in 1991 — on Thursday, June 18.

A pre-game function will then be held to recognise all the men who have shed blood, sweat and tears for the club.

“Embracing and recognising all the players that have represented our club is a key part of any club’s history and following on from our inaugural Hall of Fame we are keen to honour and acknowledge every player who has worn the club’s jumper in a premiership match,’’ said Jameson, who was Adelaide’s leading goalkicker in its inaugural season with 49 before becoming a playmaking defender.

“We also want to use this opportunity to underpin the welfare program we have planned to help look after our players that might fall on hard times or need support after they have left our club.’’

Adelaide has used guernsey numbers from one to 52 in its 25 years.

The most worn numbers are two and six, with eight players having carried the number on their backs, including Wayne Carey (two) and Hall of Fame inductee Tony Modra (six).

No Crows jumper is more famous than No. 32.

It was first worn by ex-West Torrens star and inaugural Crows’ squad member Bruce Lindsay before being donned by the player who would become Adelaide’s first and, to date, only Brownlow Medallist Mark Ricciuto.

Now the club’s new Raging Bull and midfield star Patrick Dangerfield is its proud owner.

Jameson plans to have every player sign two Crows jumpers. One will be used to hang at the club and the other will be auctioned to raise funds for past players.

The first guernsey to be auctioned will be the No. 32. Check the Crows’ website for details.