AFL star Wayne Carey has made his much-anticipated debut in Adelaide Crows colours, but he was outshone by another former Kangaroos forward keen to prove he was not about to play second fiddle.

While Carey had two marks and three kicks without a goal in the first half, and did not return to the field in the second half, Mark Stevens booted three goals before the long break and marked everything that came his way.

Stevens added another two majors in the third term to finish with five goals for the night, before resting on the bench in the final quarter.

The Crows outclassed SANFL side Norwood in a practice match at Norwood Oval, wining 18.13(121) to 3.3(21), in Adelaide's first match against another side this year.

A crowd of 9,572 flocked into the venue, no doubt mainly attracted by the opportunity to see Carey in his first AFL match since he left the Kangaroos in disgrace at the start of last season.

Spectators gave the seven-time All Australian, who has kicked 671 goals in 244 games with the Kangaroos, a resounding ovation when he walked onto the ground, and the excitement was palpable when he got close to the ball.

But it was not until 17 minutes into the first quarter that he managed to get his first possession for Adelaide, when veteran defender Nigel Smart gave him a handball on the half-forward flank, and Carey hit Stevens with a short left-foot pass.

Stevens, from about 30 metres out, handballed to a running Matthew Bode who slotted home a simple goal.

It was Carey's only disposal of the opening term.

He took his first mark eight minutes into the second quarter, and another mark 17 minutes into the second term, a clever one-hander 45 metres out, with the resultant kick also being marked by Stevens, who converted an easy shot for his third goal.

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