Adelaide Crows News

Adelaide plans to appeal the decision to award only a band three first-round draft pick as compensation for losing Nathan Bock.

"He was an All-Australian two years ago when he also won our club champion award , is only 27 and if he was still on our list right now he would be rated right near the top," Crows football operations manager Phil Harper said.

"We believe that compensation for a player of Nathan's ilk would be a minimum of band two. Because of all this, the club owes it to its members and supporters to strongly appeal this decision to the AFL."

Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett says he is determined to improve his kicking for goal in 2011 after a frustrating season in front of the big sticks.

"My goalkicking is a work in progress and something that I'm very aware of," Tippett said.

"I've got to get my body right and give myself the best chance to kick the goals. My technique is always evolving. It's changed every year, so I need to settle on something and get that set in stone. I don't think it'll be too hard to do...I'll just need to kick thousands of balls over the summer."

Personal reasons are behind Adelaide ruckman Jonathon Griffin's request for a trade to his home state of Western Australia.

"He has a very serious personal reason that has prompted his decision not to seek a new contract with the Crows," Griffin's manager Colin Young said.

"We now have to check with either Fremantle or the West Coast, to see if they have interest in Jon to continue his career with them. We will talk to both the WA clubs over the next couple of weeks and see what might transpire in regards to a trade deal for Jon."

Adelaide forward Trent Hentschel retires from football after failing to overcome a serious knee injury that has prevented him from returning to football at the highest level.

"In talking to the medical staff it has become very clear that my knee isn't up to playing in the AFL and will only get worse, so I think this is the best decision for myself and the club," Hentschel said.

"I have loved every minute at the Adelaide Football Club and feel very privileged and lucky to have been part of the club for the past nine seasons. I can't thank the club enough, firstly for giving me an opportunity to play in the AFL and then for giving me the chance to get back to playing again after my knee injury. I feel very lucky to have achieved that after my injury."

Andrew McLeod says his troublesome knee has finally forced him into retirement after being succesfully managed over 6 or 7 years.

"I was talking to Craigy last night and he used the analogy of a tube of toothpaste. He said I'd rolled the tube up, sucked the toothpaste out and got as much as I could out of it. I suppose that's what I've done with my knee," McLeod said.

"I tried to get the better of the injury and get on top of it, but unfortunately this year it got the better of me and it didn't work out. It would be nice to have the fairytale [finish], but I couldn't have asked for a better career or a better place to finish up."

Andrew McLeod has played his last game of AFL football, confirming he will not be available for selection against the Crows' round 22 clash against St Kilda.

"I'm not confident that my knee is up to playing this week, let alone get through the game," McLeod said.

"I haven't been able to train properly for a long time. A new era has also started at the club and I don't want to stop a younger player from playing on Saturday."

Adelaide coach Neil Craig paid tribute to McLeod's career that has defied the odds and withstood physical turmoil to last 340 games.

"His record is outstanding. His ability to play high quality football at the top level for so long has been remarkable," Craig said.

"Great players make their mark on the biggest stage and he certainly did that."

Adelaide coach Neil Craig praises the contested ball work of youngsters Rory Sloane and Patrick Dangerfield but says they must work on other parts of their game as well.

"I'm really pleased with Rory. I like the way he plays, his contested ball is exceptional already and his in-close work is very, very good for such a young player," he said.

"What we need to add to Rory is a bit more of an offensive part to his game and that will come as he becomes more experienced and spends more time on the training track.

"I'd put the same comment next to Patrick as well. Contested ball is in the elite area in the AFL for those guys, but they need to have an offensive competition to their game as well."

Adelaide forward Chris Knights delays signing with the club raising speculation of a trade back to Melbourne.

"The Chris Knights one has always been a worry, but I spoke to his manager and he wants to start talking," Crows football amanger Phil Harper told Adelaide radio station 5AA.

"That's always a good sign, but as I said it's only starting to talk."

Adelaide coach Neil Craig says declining to select Nathan Bock after he decided to join Gold Coast was the right decision.

"Our side is better with Nathan Bock in it, but we can't make the finals, which is a critical one for me, so why would I play Nathan Bock knowing that he's not going to be here next year?" Craig said.

Adelaide coach Neil Craig faces a call on Trent Hentschel's future without seeing the forward play another AFL game this season.

"I had a discussion with Trent yesterday. He feels like he's progressing, but he needs to do more to come back into AFL-level competition," Craig said.

Craig said that Hentschel's troublesome knee would be a key factor in his decision about the forward's future.

"We know it can hold up at SANFL level, but what I have to try and get as much information on and try and predict is to whether it will hold up at AFL level, which is obviously another step up again," he said.

Adelaide has re-signed midfielders Scott Thompson and Richard Douglas.

"The club is extremely pleased that Scott and Richard have re-committed to Adelaide, after both have show excellent form this season," Crows football manager Phil Harper said.

"They are quality young men who will form a key part of our midfield over the next few seasons."

Adelaide youngster Patrick Dangerfield says he would have turned down Gold Coast's offer if he was in departing teammate Nathan Bock's shoes.

"It would have been a tough decision for Bocky, but at the same time I haven't been here very long and I'd like to see myself playing for only one club," Dangerfield said.

"I think the club culture we've got here is outstanding. It's a very professional environment ... and I think we're building towards a premiership in the next couple of years, otherwise I wouldn't be here."

Adelaide midfielder Bernie Vince has had knee surgery and will not resume running for two months.

"All went well. I'm not running for two months though which will put me behind the eight ball a bit with pre-season, but I'll be sure to catch up quickly," Vince said.

Adelaide forward Brett Burton has given up hopes of a farewell match after failing to recover from an ankle injury.

"When I announced my retirement mid-season, I said that I was committed to training hard and getting back to full fitness so I could come back and perform for the Adelaide Football Club again," Burton said.

"While I have been setting high standards in my training since then, unfortunately the ankle injury I sustained six weeks ago has prevented me from playing again."

Adelaide coach Neil Craig says the AFL should brace itself for the impact of the culture it had created with concessions for Gold Coast and GWS following the departure of Nathan Bock to the Suns.

"Nathan has the right to negotiate, but I guess I was backing in our culture to stay here and where our playing group is. I thought what we were able to offer would be great enough, but anyway that's the culture that the AFL has created," Craig said.

"We need to operate within that culture and the AFL need to take responsibility for that and I'm sure they will. This is going to be life in the AFL from now on."

Adelaide will not play Nathan Bock in either of its remaining two games after the defender signalled his intentions to join Gold Coast next season.

"It's a significant offer and something that I found to hard to refuse. I'm 27-years-old and I've had a few issues with my body this year, so this is something that's going to help me set myself up after footy," Bock said of his decision.

Crows centre half-back Nathan Bock's manager Ricky Olarenshaw confirms that the defender will quit the club to join the new Gold Coast franchise despite there being two rounds remaining in the 2010 home & away season.

"Once the Crows were out of the finals race there had been speculation he was going to the Gold Coast so he had a deep and meaningful with the club yesterday," Olarenshaw said.

"He said he was most likely to take the offer and they were happy he was honest and said, 'If you're going to take up the offer, there's probably no point in playing the last two games, give them to a young player'. He agreed to that and he'll stand down today."

Adelaide defender Nathan Bock has admitted he is considering an offer to join the Gold Coast Suns for $600,000 a year.

"There's interest there, I won't deny that," Bock said.

"I haven't made a decision yet and I'm not close to signing or anything like that, but it's going to be a very tough decision. Adelaide's been great to me and there would have to be a significant difference in money for me to leave, but, at 27, you've got to consider your options."

Simon Goodwin's career is over after the Crows captain announced injury would prevent him from playing again in 2010.

"That has been my aim for the past few weeks but it slowly became clear that my ankle injury was not going to allow me to do anywhere near the training required to play," Goodwin said.

"Nearly two weeks ago I attempted to jog and lasted only 30 seconds. Today I tried again and within a couple of minutes it was obvious that there had not been any improvement."

Andy Otten has backed his decision to undergo traditional knee surgery as opposed to the LARS procedure.

"My injury was a pretty bad, so I had to do it the traditional way and have the 12 months off, but I wouldn't have had the LARS anyway, to be honest," Otten said.

"I'm young and I don't want to have to have another LARS surgery in five years time. I'm happy with what I've done and the way I've done it. I know it's going to be strong when I come back."

Adelaide defender Graham Johncock says he knows he is on his last chance with the Crows after being reprimanded by the club a few times in his career for several misdemeanours.

"There's only so much a club will take, so I'm definitely on my last chance," Johncock said.

"Not everybody gets an opportunity at the elite level and I've been here at the club a while now. I've had a few chances and I just want to make sure when I walk away from the game that I don't have any regrets."

The Western Bulldogs have flagged their interest in poaching retiring Crow Simon Goodwin as an assistant coach.

"From my own point of view I think he would make a very good coach," Bulldogs football operations manager James Fantasia said.

"I've got no doubt in my mind about that just knowing him the way I do, and how he thinks about his footy, his understanding of the game and teaching others. He's going to make a very good coach.''

Adelaide coach Neil Craig has kept NAB AFL Rising Star nominee Phil Davis on the outer so not to upset his team's balance for its clash with Richmond.

"I'm still keen to keep a similar structure down back. To bring Phil into that structure would change things significantly and it would take some flexibility away from us," Craig said.

"Phil will continue to play in the SANFL and continue to place significant pressure on Nathan Bock, Scott Stevens and Ben Rutten in defence. I'm not against playing Phil up forward at some stage because I think he'll end up being a very good forward."

Crows midfielder Patrick Dangerfield has put paid to talk of a possible move home to Victoria or to the Gold Coast by re-signing with Adelaide.

"It's great to get this sorted out," Dangerfield said.

"It hasn't been the greatest season for the team but there's lots of potential in this group. The footy club has been great to me since I was drafted and I think we are going to be a force in the AFL for the next few years and challenge for finals."

Nathan Bock says he has never spoken to Gold Coast and will definitely re-sign with the Crows.

"Adelaide gave me the opportunity to play AFL, coming off the rookie list, so it would be nice," Bock said about being a one-club player.

"The media have been talking about that sort of stuff for most of the year now. I'm not sure where they get a lot of their information from and [me going to Gold Coast] is news to me.

"My manager has been in contact with the club and I'm confident with where it's at. It will look after itself in due time, but there's no reason not to [stay at Adelaide]."

In his upcoming biography, Andrew McLeod says his character was tainted by the Crows' inaction over his feud with teammate Tyson Edwards.

"It is almost impossible to believe that the club was unaware that two of its champions were not speaking to each other,'' McLeod said.

Edwards' wife, Mandy, had signed an affidavit supporting tennis player Lleyton Hewitt after McLeod had taken legal action over the use of footage of them at sacred indigenous sites.

"I said to Tyson, 'Why would you put a friendship that you and I have had for over 10 years in jeopardy and why would Mandy go into court against us and talk about something she knows nothing about?','' McLeod says in the book.

"They (the Edwards') basically chose a four or five month friendship over a 10-year relationship. We just couldn't believe it.''

Brad Symes says he doesn't really consider himself as a contender for the Crows captaincy with skipper Simon Goodwin having announced his retirement this year.

"I'm not sure I have to think too hard about that question because in terms of that being a reality - I'm not sure it is," he said.

"I'm happy just to keep doing what I'm doing, but to have the respect of the players. This year I've gained the confidence of the team to vote me into the leadership group, which I was really rapt with."

Promising 20-year-old pair Rory Sloane and Jared Petrenko agree to new deals with Adelaide.

"Rory and Jared were keen to recommit as they see a bright future with their mates here at West Lakes. We remain in discussion with several other players and their managers and will advise when any of these negotiations are finalised," football manager Phil Harper said.

After an outstanding shut-down job on Geelong forward Cameron Mooney, Adelaide's Phil Davis earns a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.

"I probably want to move into a more key-position role," Davis said of his goals moving forward.

"I feel as though I can hopefully put on another five or six kilos, fill out a bit more but hopefully keep my agility if I can and keep that flexibility where I can play on the smaller opponents as well as the taller opponents."

Jared Petrenko's season is over after the Crows small forward broke his foot playing in the SANFL.

Ben Rutten and David Mackay have re-signed with Adelaide beyond the 2011 season.

"Both are key players for the club now and into the future and in discussion they were both excited about the long-term prospects of the current group of players," football operations manager Phil Harper said.

"There are several other players we are in discussion with at the moment and the club will advise whenever any of these contract negotiations are finalised."

Adelaide midfielder Bernie Vince says he will use his recent suspension as motivation to perform and improve.

"I want to show people that I deserve to be here still and that I can still perform here," Vince said.

"I did not think it was unfair. I fully accepted what the leadership group came up with. I had to explain to a lot of people it was a fair call. I knew the rules. I knew the consequences - and I have had to accept them."

While Graham Johncock was surprised by his club-imposed suspension, he believes it helped him return to career-best form.

"That was the decision the leadership group made and I couldn't do anything but respect it. All I had to do was go back to the Maggies and show the club that I still feel and have the desire to play footy," Johncock said.

"I went back there, played a really good game and put my name up for selection the following week. As far as I'm concerned I'm just moving forward with the Crows now."

Crows coach Neil Craig says Bernie Vince will be playing on an injured ankle for the rest of the season.

"That (ankle) won't be 100 per cent for the rest of the year but it's good enough to perform on," Craig said.

"If we had to wait for 100 per cent, he wouldn't play for the rest of the year, ankles tend to be like that. But he's doing all the training, and training at the level we want him to play at."

Retiring Adelaide veteran wants to earn a recall to the Crows' line-up rather than be gifted games before he finishes at the end of the season.

"I made a commitment to the playing group at the start of the year that regardless of form or injury, I'd play out the whole year, and that commitment hasn't changed," Burton said.

"It's exciting for me to get back and play for the sheer fact that I enjoy playing footy and want to show some leadership to the rest of the group, and help this group to continue to improve for the rest of the year."

High-flying Adelaide forward Brett Burton becomes the third veteran Crow to hang up the boots, but will play out the 2010 season.

"Brett has been a wonderful player for our club since he first started in 1999," said Adelaide CEO Steven Trigg.

"Twice a leading goalkicker, he has been one of the most exciting players in the competition for a long time, and he'll be missed for that, as well as his incredibly diligent and professional approach to his preparation and conditioning.

"Injuries have often set him back, but he's always been remarkable in getting back to playing quicker and better than expected."

Adelaide's Michael Doughty says he is keen to play on next season if his form warrants it.

"If my form holds up and the club decides they need me for another year I'll definitely put my hand up. I'm not thinking about retirement or anything at the moment," Doughty said.

"My future is on the line in the next 10 weeks and as a senior player I'd need to maintain that consistency for the second half of the year, which I think I can do."

Crows coach Neil Craig believes Andrew McLeod's career is not over despite a knee operation putting the ageing star's season in doubt.

"Andrew is very clear in his mind about what he wants to do for the rest of the year, which I think is a good, healthy attitude to have," Craig said.

"He'll get back on the track and we'll have a look at his training form and how well he's moving. Then we'll make a call on selection as to whether he needs a game back at the Port Magpies or if he comes straight back in."

Adelaide midfielder Scott Thompson says doesn't know where media reports linking him with Gold Coast have come from.

"It's been quite a surprise some of the stuff that has been said in the paper and I don't know where it's come from," Thompson said.

"I'm very comfortable with where my contract is at. Contracts do take time and I'm sure something will happen eventually. There are a lot of names being thrown around. It seems to me that if you're out of contract you're in the mix."

Andrew McLeod appears unlikely to reach the 350-game milestone after being booked for arthroscopy to examine his right knee.

McLeod, currently on 339 games, would have had to have played every remaining game this season to reach the milestone as the Crows appear unlikely to make the finals.

Adelaide coach Neil Craig says veteran Tyson Edwards was right to call it quits despite a 32-disposal farewell match.

"If you went and spoke to Tyson tomorrow morning [he would say that] to keep going to the well is unrealistic and not appropriate. I think it's been a good call and it's been a good day for the club with the way it's worked out with Tyson's performance and our winning performance, but now we push on without Tyson," Craig said.

Tyson Edwards stars in his farewell game after tallying 32 disposals and 2 goals as the Crows upset Fremantle to send off the veteran in style.

Former Crows coach Malcolm Blight has hailed Adelaide veteran Tyson Edwards as one of the greats of the game saying that Edwards once lacked confidence in his abilities.

"Tyson had some hesitations about where he sat in the football world, pointing to the fact that he had never had three votes for being best on ground in all his playing days, from junior days in the bush to his senior days in the city.

"I kept trying to work on his confidence and then one day (in the SANFL) he finally got three votes in the newspaper, so I cut it out, blew it up and stuck it in his locker to highlight that the world had seen him get a best on ground.

"From then on, I didn't need to talk to him about how good I thought he could be."

Adelaide coach Neil Craig says the fact Saturday will be Tyson Edwards' final game will not be used as motivation for his group.

"We'll give Tyson the respect that the record deserves and it's a fantastic record - 16 seasons and 320 games. I remember when Tyson played his 300th game at Etihad Stadium. I remember when Andrew McLeod played his 300th and when Mark Ricciuto played his 300th. There's a lot of hype from outside the football club and we recognise that," Craig said.

"We're not trying to downplay it. We're just treating it as we normally would."

Adelaide midfielder Patrick Dangerfield does not expect contract talks until the end of the season, but has no plans to move.

"I have no plans on moving at all. It my contract will take care of itself at the end of the year, but I certainly have no plans at this stage of moving anywhere," Dangerfield said.

"You want to enjoy the club that you're at, the culture and being part of finals. The group that we've got here is a great group to be part of and I thoroughly enjoy the coaches and the way that they do it."

Adelaide veteran Tyson Edwards says his waning form and inability to keep up with the game prompted his retirement.

"In each game this season there were things I was thinking about and I thought to myself, normally I don't have to think about this. Normally, it just happens for me," Edwards said.

"At some stage you've just got to realise that the game has got you and as much as you try and beat it and fight it you can't."

Adelaide coach Neil Craig relaxes his principles on selection to allow Crows veteran Tyson Edwards a final farewell game against Fremantle in round 11.

"In this particular instance with the circumstances involved and the calibre of player we're talking about, is that the decision should have been based on what's best for the club rather than what's best on the selection principles that I uphold," Craig said.

"It's a great opportunity for our football club in an industry where it is cutthroat, highly professional and where there's very little sentiment shown in a lot of situations, that in this particular situation we have the capacity and circumstance to still show care and a sense of belonging to one of our people."

Crows coach Neil Craig says Patrick Dangerfield is a future leader at Adelaide, but has ruled him out as Simon Goodwin's successor for 2011.

"Leadership potential is probably a good term for Patrick. He's still very young. He's showing some real interest in that aspect of the game...but [the captaincy] is a much greater responsibility than just playing ability now," Adelaide coach Neil Craig said.

"When Patrick's available he tends to get picked for us and he's been in good form, but he's still establishing himself as an AFL player and he's still got a lot to learn from a playing point of view."

Tyson Edwards announces his sudden and immediate retirement just days after his teammate and skipper Simon Goodwin announced had announced his own.

"Tyson has been one of the all-time greats of the AFL," Crows chief executive Steven Trigg said.

"He will be remembered for an extraordinary impact on our club, as a player of incredible consistency, durability and talent. We've been very privileged to have had Tyson at the Adelaide football club."

Adelaide forward Chris Knights will miss another six weeks after having surgery in Melbourne as part of his treatment for plantar fasciitis.

Retiring Adelaide captain Simon Goodwin says his gambling addiction would have taken him down a life-threatening path if not for the club.

"It would have been a lot tougher without the support of the club and I certainly would have gone down a path that would have been a lot more dangerous and almost life-threatening for a whole range of reasons," Goodwin said.

"The support network here has been unbelievable ... it's changed my life around. My gambling was spiralling out of control and I owe this football club a lot. It owes me nothing."

Adelaide Crows coach Neil Craig hails Goodwin as perhaps the best captain the club has ever had despite his gamebling troubles.

"Simon has been an exceptional individual, an exceptional player and I would suggest the greatest captain this football club has ever had," Craig said.

"At one stage it was suggested that he should exit our football club and (he's gone from that) to being the captain of our football club...I think that sums up Simon Goodwin."

Adelaide's Simon Goodwin confirms that he will retire at the end of this season.

"The game ultimately is getting quicker and faster and I'm getting older and slower and it's going to cross paths at some stage. I wanted to go out on my terms and play as if it's my last game for the rest of the year," Goodwin said.

"I wanted to be remembered as a player that played with a highly competitive spirit and who played right to the end with very high standards and not someone who crawled to the finish."

Adelaide coach Neil Craig has praised the decision to suspend three players in Graham Johncock, Bernie Vince and Matthew Jaensch for misbehaviour after the team rallied to beat Brisbane for just their second win this year.

"It'll be their choice now about the decisions they make, in terms of challenging the standards of our footy club irrespective of the results we're getting," he said.

"It's pretty clear what will happen at our footy club if you challenge them. Now, it's back to them for a response."

Bernie Vince says he is disappointed at having failed to meet team guidelines which led to his latest suspension.

"I feel like a dog for doing it," Vince said about having spent a late night out in Melbourne after a loss to the Kangaroos.

"There are guidelines about how you prepare for the next game. We know they are there. We set them up as a group - and we need to stick to them. We didn't stick to them - and that's not the right thing to do when you are 1-7."

Adelaide has revealed the reasons behind the suspensions of Bernie Vince, Matthew Jaensch and Graham Johncock.

Vince and Jaensch are said to have stayed out "beyond a reasonable time" following the Crows' loss to North Melbourne in Melbourne.

Johncock has been penalized for failing to attend a recovery session while recuperating from a shoulder injury.

"It would've been very easy for the leadership group to know that information and to sweep it under the carpet," Crows assistant coach David Noble said.

"At 1-7 we thought it was a very courageous and honest decision from the leadership group to come to us and say, 'these standards aren't what we're about'."

Bernie Vince, Matthew Jaensch and Graham Johncock have been handed a club suspension by the Crows senior leadership group for failing to meet "training and preparation standards".

After struggling since returning from a knee injury, Brett Burton will miss this weekend's clash against the Kangaroos.

"Part of the discussion was about his goalkicking and I found it hard to explain to Brett because it was more of a gut feel that he had a lack of power in his leg and he acknowledges that," Adelaide coach Neil Craig said.

"We've made a decision that rather than play in the SANFL Brett needs to spend more time getting his leg strong, so he can play the sort of footy that will get him back into our side."

Adelaide coach Neil Craig says he is unsure when forward Chris Knights will be ready to play as he tries to recover from a foot injury.

"Chris has got some foot problems and we're doing our absolute best to try and get him back on the track. It's slow at the moment and it's causing frustration for him," Craig said.

"We've just got to keep the treatment that we're using at the moment and try and get him back as soon as we can. It's slower than what we like and I can't give you a timeframe."

Adelaide's Bernie Vince says he is starting to get tagged a lot more this year after a stellar 2009.

"Being tagged is something I haven't had to deal with in the past too much, but I'm starting to get used to it. I'm finding different ways to handle it and ways to still have an impact in the game," Vince said.

"It's not all about you when you're getting tagged and it's not just about getting a heap of the footy. It's also about doing the little things that a lot of people don't notice from the outside."

Vince says captain and mentor Simon Goodwin has been instrumental in helping him deal with taggers this season.

"I still work pretty closely with Goody and he was the main driver behind that tagging practice over the pre-season. Sometimes it would be him that would come and tag me," he said.

"He'd act like a tagger; hang on to me and annoy the hell out of me, but I've certainly developed some good tools from what he's taught me."

Adelaide could be without Brad Moran for the season due to complications with his knee.

"It's a bit of an unknown with Brad. We'll have to wait and see how he comes up towards the latter-part of the season," physical performance manager Stephen Schwerdt said.

"We definitely haven't ruled him out, but we need to make sure he has no setbacks during his rehab and that it all goes smoothly. That's the main agenda at the moment."

Adelaide's horrendous injury run continues with Patrick Dangerfield breaking his left hand and set to miss four weeks.

Crow Chris Knights will also be sidelined due to soreness in his foot caused by a stress fracture.

"It's not ideal losing quality players in Patrick and Chris. We've got some youngsters who are playing in the SANFL and are in good form. They'll come in and like ever before we need them to perform," Adelaide captain Simon Goodwin said.

David Mackay is the latest Adelaide player to succumb to injury, with groin soreness to keep him out of Friday night's match against the Bulldogs.

"The six day break made it hard for him and we didn't want to risk more damage, so he won't be available," Adelaide coach Neil Craig.

The Herald Sun reports that new AFL franchise Gold Coast has set its sights on Crows midfielder Scott Thompson and Port Adelaide's Nathan Krakouer.

Adelaide debutant Phil Davis was a shining light for the Crows in the side's fourth straight loss for the year against Carlton.

"There were a couple of errors I made that I'd like to improve on, but it was a good start. It was big step up and I was pretty tired by the end of the game," Davis said.

"There were a few things I did a bit wrong in the NAB Cup in terms of my positioning and knowing the team structures, but I've worked on those areas over the last four or five weeks and have hopefully become a better player."

Neil Craig is optimistic about Trent Hentschel's future however it will depend on the outcome of his seventh knee operation.

"Hopefully, it is just scar tissue and I think he'll be able to continue his career. It's open-ended though, isn't it? I'm open-minded about it and Trent's open-minded about it," Craig said.

"I had a good discussion with him yesterday, after the game and again this morning. He's very resilient and what I do know is that he won't be left wondering. It's a crucial surgery for him obviously, but I'm still really positive."

Adelaide forward Trent Hentschel could face further surgery on his right knee after the joint swelled in Adelaide's game against Melbourne.

"He's had the same thing (swelling) a couple of times in the past, so he knew pretty well straight away what was going on when it started swelling up on Sunday," Adelaide physical performance manager Stephen Schwerdt.

"The surgery he had last time helped him and got him back playing. That seems to be the most logical solution at the moment, but we won't know until he sees the specialist."

Scott Stevens is still unable to take his place in the Crows side after suffering a concussion during the Crows loss to Fremantle in round 1.

"Stevo just seems to pull up really badly from concussion and heavy knocks. The same thing happened last year when he got that knock early in the season," teammate David Mackay said.

"It seemed to knock him around a bit for the next few weeks. I guess it's just something that, with his make-up, his body struggles to deal with."

Adelaide youngster Patrick Dangerfield believes his sickening neck injury against Melbourne was the result of a freak incident.

"When it happened I was pretty concerned because of the way I came down on my neck. I heard a cracking sound ... so to get the all-clear was very good," Dangerfield said.

"It's still a bit sore at the moment, but I'll be pushing for selection this week. It could have been a lot worse, so I'm thankful."

Dangerfield says that he will not change the way he plays despite the injury.

"I've worked on the way I approach the ball, but what happened on the weekend was just one of those freak-of-nature type accidents. I'm not too concerned about it and it certainly won't change the way I play," he said.

"Last year it was more about concussions, but I haven't had any this year so far so I'm not worried about it."

Patrick Dangerfield suffers a serious neck injury after being gang-tackled by three Melbourne Demons players.

Scans clear Dangerfield of neck fractures but he will remain in hospital for further scans to determine the extent of his injury.

Teammates Trent Hentschel, Nathan Bock and Kurt Tippett also suffered knee, hamstring and ankle injuries in the same game leaving the Crows without a bench for the last quarter and a half where the Demons were able to run out the game to a 16-point victory.

Rookie Chris Schmidt is in line to debut for the Crows against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, after he was upgraded to the senior list during the week.

"We've elevated Chris. It's not a guarantee that he'll play, but it means he's coming under consideration and we can't pick him if he's not on the list," Crows coach Neil Craig said.

Crows defender Ben Rutten says the growing speed of the game means the era of himself playing almost 100 per cent game time is almost over.

"With the way forwards are pressuring defensively these days their work rate is up and they need to have time on the bench to recover," Rutten said.

"The forwards might go off for a two-minute rest and if I don't get a rest too, I have to keep up with fresh guys coming on and off the ground. Defenders have to have a high level of fitness to be able to play on these guys that are coming on and off.

"Defenders' numbers are pretty similar to the midfielders in terms of distance covered. We're on the ground longer, so the intensity isn't as high but the ground covered is pretty similar."

The prospect of trying to knock off his childhood hero is one that appeals to young Crow Tony Armstrong as Adelaide prepare to face Sydney in round 2.

"I grew up in western Sydney and supported the Swans. I just loved Michael O'Loughlin and Adam Goodes. Hopefully, I get a game this weekend and I can get out there and rub shoulders with [Goodes]," Armstrong said.

"You'd treat him like any other player, but hopefully after the game I could go up and shake his hand and tell him I grew up idolising him."

Young Crow Rory Sloane will miss six weeks after straining ligaments in his left ankle when his leg was caught under an opponent in a tackle against Fremantle.

Adelaide coach Neil Craig says he appreciates forward Kurt Tippett's decision to sign with the club early to avoid any distractions during the season as has been the case for Geelong with Gary Ablett Jr.

"The innuendo can be divisive," Craig said.

"We don't want an environment where it is unknown. I don't think it is good for individual players to put themselves into that situation."

It is Andrew McLeod's sixteenth season but he has revealed that he is not thinking about retirement as the 2010 AFL season begins.

"Retirement is not something I'm thinking about at the moment," McLeod said in a chat session on afc.com.au.

"Although I am the oldest bloke at the club and one day it will be inevitable, there's still a bit left in this old dog...

"I'm not sure about the last year thing. I try not to worry about that too much. I just want to help the Crows be as successful as possible this year before anything else."

Adelaide has lost defender Graham Johncock to a broken thumb ahead of its season opener against Fremantle.

Adelaide coach Neil Craig has confirmed that forward Jason Porplyzia is still lacking match fitness despite overcoming his pelvic injury and will not be ready to play against Fremantle for the club's season opener in 2010.

"There were a whole range of things that came into the decision, but in the end we weren't convinced Jason had enough preparation to go to Perth and perform at the level we wanted him to," Craig said.

"The reality is that the last time he trained with us fully as a squad was about November 30. He had a training session on Sunday and if he'd trained today it would have only been two full sessions, so we thought it wasn't fair to him."

Crows captain Simon Goodwin believes young players Kurt Tippett and Patrick Dangerfield will be the big improvers for the club in 2010.

"He is certainly fantastic at ground level and the pressure he can put on the opposition with his presence is enormous. He understands the game a bit better -- he comes from a basketball background -- and he is understanding the game more and more each year and he is only going to get better," Goodwin said of Tippett.

"The challenge for Patty is his ability to link up across the ground and he has got himself in really good physical shape to be able to do that. It is exciting for Patty," Goodwin said about Dangerfield.

"He is now in the elite runners at the footy club and it has enabled him to do that and now it is up to Patty to be that player in the midfield to earn 25 to 30 possessions a week."

Adelaide forward Jason Porplyzia has failed in his bid to be fit for the Crows' round 1 clash against Fremantle due to a pelvis injury.

"Porps is just starting to be eased back into it," Crows assistant coach Mark Bickley said.

"So he'll take part in some of the drills and hopefully build up to some more meaningful training next week. It's been a long lay off but hopefully he's on the road to recovery and we should see him in the not too distant future."

Adelaide veteran Brett Burton has been elected president of the AFL Players' Association in place of Joel Bowden and says he will push for an improved deal when the players' body starts talks with the league over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

"We feel as though with the system we have in place at the moment that the players have lost a bit of bargaining power," Burton said.

"It's not just about money. It's important we support players professionally and personally, so it's not just about increasing the salary cap, it's the services and the professional development."

Young Adelaide midfielder Myke Cook says he believes him and teammate Rory Sloane have done enough to play for the Crows in round 1 against Fremantle, particularly with a number of Crows still recovering from injuries.

"Sloaney and I have both had good pre-seasons. The injuries have opened up spots, but I think we would be pretty close to getting games even if there was a full list to choose from," Cook said.

"We've played all four games and have managed to put a couple of good games together. There are obviously a few senior blokes coming back, but in the end we've done our best and now it's up to the selectors."

Adelaide midfielder Nathan van Berlo could make his long-awaited comeback on Saturday in the SANFL.

"It was good to see him out there. He's been doing a heap of work behind the scenes on the bike, in the pool and running laps. It's enjoyable for him to be able to come out and complete a whole main session for us," Crows teammate Ben Rutten said of Van Berlo.

"He might have a bit of a run this week, but it'll obviously depend on how he pulls up from today. I think he's pretty keen to start getting back into things and I don't think he's restricted in any movement now, which is good."

Taylor Walker is being groomed to take on a new role as a forward who plays up a ground while having stints through the midfield since running time trials as fast as Adelaide's midfielders.

"We don't want Tex to get stuck deep in our forward line," Crows assistant coach David Noble said.

"He doesn't want to do that and as coaches we're not doing our job if we don't develop other areas of his game. He needs to have the capacity to do more and what he's shown us this pre-season is that he does."

A depleted Adelaide is confident champion Andrew McLeod will be a dangerous part of its early season forward mix after observing the veteran in a NAB Challenge match against Collingwood.

"Andrew played half of his game against Collingwood last week in the front half and his defensive action, his tackling and his pressure around the ground-ball in those sort of conditions was just exceptional," Noble said.

"I think you'd be more than happy to have him lining up forward for you against any opposition."

Nathan van Berlo undergoes a two-hour procedure to relieve pain in his troublesome back, allowing him to resume training.

"He felt a lot better after training so we'll continue to try to progress him a lot further," Crows operations manager Phil Harper said.

"The biggest problem for him has been kicking long distances but he was able to do that pretty well pain free, which was quite handy. It's pleasing for us and him but he's still not out of the woods yet because he hasn't even got to competitive work but it's a step in the right direction. We're just trying to step him up to the next level and if he can start doing that without pain, then it's a winner for us all."

James Sellar is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks after breaking his hand during a NAB Challenge match against the Magpies in Alice Springs

Adelaide pair Brad Symes and Brad Moran have stalled in their recovery from knee injuries, with Symes to have arthroscopic surgery this week.

Adelaide's Richard Douglas says he hopes to become a more permanent fixture in the Crows side this year and hopes to make the most of opportunities that have presented themselves with the club's mounting injury toll.

"With a few guys missing there's probably a bit of added responsibility," he said.

"It was pretty disappointing for me with the way it ended last year. I've trained hard over the pre-season and am taking a bit of a different approach this year."

Adelaide onballer Brent Reilly has been working hard to develop into a tagger this season after Crows coach Neil Craig suggested it as a possible role for him.

"I did a little bit of tagging when I first came over just helping out off the bench. I hadn't really done it for any length of time, but I thought I should grab the opportunity with both hands and make the most of it," Reilly said.

"I'm just after some team security at the moment. I've been thrown around in a lot of positions over my career and I'm keen to settle down in one spot and make it mine for the whole year. If it's a tagging role, well I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Adelaide defender Nathan Bock says he has recovered well from a stress fracture in his heel that plagued him last season.

"It was frustrating to miss the end of last season and to be on a modified program pre-Christmas, but I was always confident that by around this time I was going to be right to start playing again," Bock said.

"I'm just looking forward to getting back out there and having a run around. My fitness base is there...I just want to get that match fitness back, so that come round one I'm ready to take on the season."

Adelaide's bad run of pre-season injuries has continued with a foot injury to talented forward Chris Knights.

Knights had been sporting a moon boot due to plantar fasciitis and now has a confirmed stress fracture in his foot.

"Late last week Chris was aware of pain and swelling further down the foot towards the toes. An investigation (MRI scan) on the weekend revealed a stress fracture," club doctor Andrew Potter said on the Crows' website.

"Chris will continue to have treatment for both plantar fasciitis and the stress fracture."

Adelaide forward Brett Burton is in doubt for the opening match of the season after surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee.

"He will be in a race against time to be available for round one but we have faith in our physical performance team to give him the best chance possible of taking the field against Freo," Crows football operations general manager Phil Harper said.

Port Adelaide forward Daniel Motlop has accepted a one-game suspension for his crude tackle on Michael Doughty in the Power's NAB Cup win over Adelaide.

Port Adelaide forward Daniel Motlop could miss his side's NAB Cup match against West Coast after being charged with rough conduct following a crude spear tackle on Crow Michael Doughty.

Jason Porplyzia says he should make his return from a pelvic injury before round one of the home and away season.

"The doctors and the physios seem to think the injury could be a result of years of not using the muscles in the pelvis and glutes properly," Porplyzia said.

"Hopefully, the core-strengthening program will get the muscles going again and build them up so that they're able to take the workload a bit better."

Adelaide's Brodie Martin is tracking well when comparing his rehabilitation from a knee reconstruction to teammate Brett Burton.

"He's a bit more advanced than Brett Burton was at the same time, which is pretty impressive considering how Brett came back. Brodie started running a while ago, but he's starting to get up some speed now and he's looking pretty sharp," Crows physical performance manager Stephen Schwerdt.

Martin played two games in 2009 which he says helped him with being promoted to the senior list for the Crows.

"If there was an upside to doing my knee it was that I did it in a Showdown playing at the highest level and not while I was running around for Sturt in the SANFL because who knows what would've happened," Martin said.

Adelaide has put Jason Porplyzia on a modified program because of a pelvic injury but is confident he'll still feature in the pre-season competition.

"Jason's just got a problem with his pelvis, so we've had to back him off," Adelaide coach Neil Craig said.

"Up until then he ran a personal best in his 3km time trial, which is a big plus for him. We just have to be patient with him, but unless something goes wrong I'm really positive he'll be available for the second round of the NAB Cup."

Adelaide youngster Patrick Dangerfield will be sidelined for up to three weeks after straining a medial ligament in his knee during a typically competitive Crows training session.

"Patty was in a marking contest and he just gave his medial a bit of a tweak. It's down the lower end of the scale, so it will probably keep him out at least a week," Schwedt said.

"It's the nature of our training. If you're going to do competitive-type training there's always the risk of this sort of thing happening.

Trent Hentschel is attacking this pre-season with added vigour while gaining confidence in his body to withstand the rigours of training since recovering from a serious knee injury.

"My focus now is to attack the sessions, not just get through," Hentschel said.

"This is the first pre-season in a while I've been able to do that because I've had the confidence in my body to actually go out and not just try to get through sessions, and not worry about getting injured all the time.

"That's enabled me to do extra work. I lost that chance to improve over the last two or three years with my knee so I'm trying to catch up on as much improving as I can over the pre-season."

A clean bill of health and some strong performances on the track have Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield considering a midfield role for 2010 after a torrid start to 2009 due to injuries last year.

"At the time I probably didn't realise how much of an impact missing training would have and it gave me a greater appreciation once the season started, just being able to be out there and train," Dangerfield said.

"If you're in rehabilitation it makes it so much harder to get up to speed with the way that we train and the way that we play. It makes it a lot harder come January or February to make your way into the pre-season side."

Dangerfield also says he is in no rush yet to extend his contract which ends in 2010 but is looking for a house to settle in Adelaide.

"The contract's not something I need to rush into at the moment. I just want to focus on getting a good pre-season under my belt, playing some good footy and the rest will take care of itself," he said.

"I'm loving every minute of it over here. Mum's on the internet pretty much every night looking on (real estate site) Domain and she gives me a call if she finds anything. Hopefully the right house will come along soon."

Adelaide's Nathan Bock spent the off-season in a moon boot but is now running without pain for the first time since August.

"Bocky's had a few running sessions and he's going really well," Crows physical performance manager Stephen Schwerdt said.

"We're taking it relatively conservatively with him just to make sure. We wanted to make sure he was spot on before we got him into any running and so far, so good."

Adelaide has added Brad Symes to the leadership group and made Simon Goodwin captain for a third year.

"It's something that when I woke up this morning I didn't come to the club expecting," Symes said.

"We had a pretty rock-solid leadership group last season and I didn't see that changing going into next year, but leadership is something that I've been working on in the last year or two ever since I got to the club.

"It's a massive honour to be acknowledged by my peers that I've been doing some of that work and they've seen that come through."

Adelaide rookie Matthew Wright says he appreciates the opportunity being given to him by the Crows.

"You've got to get your foot in the door and then it all falls back onto you a bit," he said.

"With the facilities the Crows have now got it's going to be up to the individual as to whether they make it or not. I certainly won't be taking it for granted."

Former Adelaide Crow Robert Shirley has withdrawn his nomination from the NAB AFL Pre-Season and Rookie Drafts thereby effectively announcing his retirement.

Adelaide's Brad Symes be on the sidelines for up to six weeks after undergoing a knee operation.

"Brad's just got a little bit of material in the knee which needs cleaning out," football operations manager John Reid said.

"We could have punted on him coming good but we thought it would be best to give the knee a bit of a cleanout to prevent further problems."

Watching Brett Burton make a full recovery from his knee operation has given strength to Adelaide defender Andy Otten.

"Bird [Burton] gave me a call the night before I went in to have the operation and I asked him what advice he had for me," Otten said.

"He sent me an email of the 12-month plan he went through and he's going to go through that with me. Brett came back in such good physical condition. He's the benchmark for what I want to achieve."

Adelaide coach Neil Craig says that Andy Otten can continue to develop despite going down with a season-ending knee injury.

"Andy's a really strong-minded person, so we need to make sure we use the next 12 months to make him a better player in terms of conditioning, strength, leadership and game knowledge," Craig said.

"He won't have another 20-plus games under his belt, but we need to make sure all the other parts of his game progress."

Adelaide defender Andy Otten will miss the entire 2010 season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at training

New Adelaide recruit Jack Gunston feels lucky to be drafted after he missed eight weeks with a severe elbow injury.

"I was playing in a practice game for Sandy [Sandringham]. I contested the ball and my elbow just popped out. I had to go to hospital and the doctors put my whole arm in a cast," Gunston said.

"I only saw three of his [TAC Cup] games, but I liked his competitiveness and the way he went at the ball," Adelaide recruiting manager Matt Rendell said.

Adelaide coach Neil Craig throws his support behind Simon Goodwin remaining captain of the Crows.

"His playing credentials are there for everyone to see and you see his on-field leadership, but what a lot of supporters won't see is his leadership off the field and on a day-to-day basis. He's developing into, possibly, the most outstanding captain this club has ever had," Craig said.

North Adelaide junior James Craig said he was thrilled to be drafted by the team he has supported all his life, the Adelaide Crows.

"I was over the moon when my name got called out. It's the best-case scenario being drafted by the Crows," Craig said.

"I don't have to move away from home or worry about anything else. I'm rapt to stay in Adelaide. I couldn't have asked for anything more."

Adelaide recruit Daniel Talia says an impromptu school visit might have swayed the club's first pick in the NAB AFL Draft.

"Hamish [Adelaide recruiter Hamish Ogilvie] came down to my school and had a chat to my teachers. I guess the club was really doing its homework on me," Talia said.

"Fortunately for me, my principal Michael Kenny used to coach the U19s at Glenelg. He's from Adelaide and he's a big Crows' supporter, so I think he gave me a really good rap which might've helped me in the end."

Kurt Tippett has revealed that he did receive an offer from the Gold Coast this year but is pleased with his decision to stay at Adelaide.

"It was great to sign up with the club for three years and I'm very excited that I know where my future is going to be," Tippett said.

"There was a little bit of heat [on me to stay]. It was great to hear everyone's support because they all wanted me to stay in Adelaide and so did I. My manager was keen for me to weigh up all the options, although my sole focus was always staying in Adelaide."

Nathan Bock, Nathan van Berlo and Ben Rutten will not start full training until after Christmas as they recuperate from injuries.

Discarded Crow Robert Shirley is weighing up his future and may consider joining another club in that is a premiership contender.

"Given that he's 29, he's had a good career," Shirley's manager Peter Lenton said.

"The big issue is whether he wants to move for one year."

Adelaide has delisted five senior players and one rookie in the lead-up to the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.

Robert Shirley was let go after playing 151 games along with Nick Gill, Greg Gallman, Aaron Kite, Tom Lee as well rookie-listed James Moss.

Adelaide best-and-fairest Bernie Vince says a helping hand from skipper Simon Goodwin prevented him from making an early AFL exit.

"Simon's been a great influence on my career. I was just cruising through the system a little bit in my first couple of years and I put almost everything I've achieved over the past couple of years down to what Simon Goodwin has done for me," Vince said.

"He got me out and made me train. Once he did that and said he believed in me I started to believe in myself. If it wasn't for Simon there's every chance I would've been out of the system and back home playing for Stansbury."

Adelaide's club champion went down to the wire, with Bernie Vince eventually taking the prize and winning his first gold jacket and Malcolm Blight medal as the Crows' best and fairest for 2009 just ahead of runner-up Jason Porplyzia.

Kurt Tippett signs three-year contract extension with Adelaide to stave off overtures from the Gold Coast while veterans Brett Burton, Andrew McLeod, Simon Goodwin and Tyson Edwards re-sign to play on for one year.

The re-signings were announced at the club's 2009 best and fairest awards with club champion Bernie Vince saying he was always confident of Tippett staying.

"I was in Kurt's ear every day for him to stay. It came down to his decision, but I always had faith he would stay," Vince said on Friday night.

"He gets on really well with everyone here and I even told people back home [in Stansbury] that I'd be really surprised if he left at any stage."

Adelaide's Brett Burton has won the 2009 Hungry Jack's Mark of the Year while Hawthorn's Cyril Rioli has won the AFL Stores Goal of the Year.

"Without a doubt, it's the best mark I've ever taken. It's certainly the biggest mark I've ever taken. When I was up there, I thought, 'whoa!' It did feel good," Burton said of his mark.

"I would also like to thank my teammate Chance Bateman for giving me the handball to have the opportunity to kick the goal," Rioli said of his goal.

Adelaide is set to offer its gun forward Kurt Tippett a highly lucractive deal in an effort to keep him away from the new Gold Coast franchise.

"I'm sure we'll pay Kurt what we think he is worth to us as a player and what he's worth to our footy club," Adelaide coach Neil Craig said.

"Once all that's on the table, then hopefully Kurt says, `Let's go', whether it's for another one, two or three years.

"In the end Kurt will make that decision, but I hope he stays because he's going to be a fantastic player for us. And I know our supporters would love him to stay because they can sort of predict, if he continues to improve, what sort of player he can be."

Adelaide coach Neil Craig has assured the future of Brett Burton despite the veteran forward seeming to run out of puff towards in the Crows' semi-final loss to Collingwood.

"People have to understand that Brett Burton has got himself back into a condition having done no pre-season and coming off a major knee reconstruction," Craig said.

"I could argue that what Brett Burton was able to do for us was quite extraordinary based on those conditions."

Adelaide captain Simon Goodwin says that the Crows over 30 including himself, Tyson Edwards, Andrew McLeod and Brett Burton feel like they have unfinished business after losing a semi-final in heartbreaking fashion to Collingwood.

"All four of us are reasonably keen to go on, but at the same time I don't think anyone of us have had a conversation with the footy club or sat down and done our review yet," Goodwin said.

"The result from the weekend is certainly painful. You feel as a player that there's some unfinished business there... there's some unfinished business there that we'd like to contribute towards."

Andy Otten takes what appears to be a match-saving mark in the dying seconds of Adelaide's semi final against Collingwood only to watch a free kick being paid to John Anthony who kicks the winning goal.

"I went back to take the kick and next thing I see it was paid a free kick. He went back and goaled and that was it pretty much," Otten said.

"We put ourselves out there for four quarters and to not get the win is pretty shattering. All the older boys are taking it pretty hard and being a young kid in my first finals series I don't like the feeling much myself.

"We have to take this feeling into next season and really give it a crack next year. I know I'll take that feeling into pre-season because I never want to feel like this again."

Jack Anthony kicks the winning goal with only a minute remaining after being awarded a free kick against Ben Rutten for holding in Collingwood's semi-final against Adelaide.

Adelaide tagger Rob Shirley says praise from Gary Albett has given him added confidence before the do-or-die Collingwood clash.

Ablett identified Shirley and Carlton youngster Aaron Joseph as his toughest opponents this season.

"That's a great compliment from a great player. It gives me a bit of confidence," Shirley said.

Nathan van Berlo struggles to recover from a niggling back injury and will not play in Adelaide's semi-final against Collingwood.

Adelaide football manager John Reid is quietly confident forward Kurt Tippett will resist the lure of returning home to the Gold Coast despite constant media speculation on the key forward's future at the club.

"Kurt seems very happy here. He's a major player in our football club and will be for some years to come. I can't give you a definite answer. I'd love to be able to, but we'll work that out at the end of the season," Reid said.

Adelaide is looking at the possibility of Nathan Bock playing in the SANFL this weekend to prove his fitness after recovering from a microfracture in his heel.

"Nathan's still a day-by-day proposition [to play this weekend] and we're at the stage now where you do have to debate taking someone in who hasn't played [in six weeks] where two weeks ago you would've said he'd be straight back into the team," Crows' football manager John Reid said.

"It may well be a situation where the selectors decide that from a touch and fitness perspective Nathan doesn't make the side."

Adelaide veteran says belief and work ethic contributed to his stunning return form that capped off a scintillating 30-disposal performance against the Bombers in the elimination final at AAMI Stadium.

"Sometimes you work pretty hard and you don't get the reward, but somewhere down the track it's going to come. I've been lucky that I've got some reward for hard work over the past few weeks," McLeod said.

"Everyone plays their role and you might not get the recognition from outside the footy club, but certainly inside you do. You don't get caught up in what other people think. You listen to your coaches because what they say is gospel."

In the four years since his last finals appearance, injuries had Adelaide forward Trent Hentschel think his best was behind him.

Hentschel is now back in the Crows side after overcoming a horrific knee injury and is set to play a key role in the club's finals aspirations for 2009.

"The whole way through my rehabilitation I doubted I could ever get back here, but I'm glad we've made it and there's a really good feeling around the club at the moment," Hentschel said.

"I'm really excited because I haven't played finals since 2005 and it will probably be the biggest crowd I've played in front of since I've been back."