A bulked-up and injury-free Riley Thilthorpe is a scary proposition for opposition sides. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

ADELAIDE
2024 record: 8 wins, 14 losses, 1 draw (15th)

THE INS
Alex Neal-Bullen (Melbourne), James Peatling (GWS), Isaac Cumming (GWS), Sid Draper (South Adelaide), Tyler Welsh (Woodville-West Torrens)

THE OUTS
Rory Sloane (retired), Elliott Himmelberg (Gold Coast), Ned McHenry (delisted), Will Hamill (delisted), Lachlan Gollant (delisted), Patrick Parnell (delisted)

THE STRENGTHS
It is hard to go past the captain as Adelaide’s biggest strength. What a recruit Jordan Dawson has proven to be. He always looked like a talent at Sydney, but he has become one of the AFL’s pre-eminent on-ballers in his three short years at West Lakes. Rory Laird is as consistent as ever in that part of the ground too, while Izak Rankine and Ben Keays, who are both very capable goalkickers as well, have upped their game considerably as midfielders. Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe could be anything as a key forward duo and their backline is looking pretty solid on paper too. Reilly O’Brien is one of the AFL’s most dependable ruckmen, registering the most hitouts (898) last year and finishing 61 clear of Sydney’s Brodie Grundy despite not playing in the finals. The Crows also have a clutch of impressive youngsters such as Josh Rachele, Jake Soligo, Max Michalanney, Sam Berry, Luke Nankveris and Brayden Cook, while Daniel Curtin, Hugh Bond, Zac Taylor and Billy Dowling look like players of the future as well. Adelaide showed flashes of their best in 2024 with wins over finalists Port Adelaide, GWS, the Western Bulldogs and Carlton.

THE WEAKNESSES
Adelaide’s club record finals drought stretched into a seventh consecutive season last year, and with coach Matthew Nicks overseeing five of those failed campaigns, he heads into his sixth year in the job under enormous pressure. What made 2024 particularly disappointing for the Crows was the fact that many touted them as being a top-four threat after having the No.1 ranked attack in 2023. But they plunged down to 12th in that ranking last year, as their scoring potency completely unravelled and deserted them. And it wasn’t much better down the other end of the ground as they ended up 10th for defence. A big reason for that was their backline receiving substandard protection from the midfield with the Crows finishing the season ninth for disposals, ninth for tackles, 11th for contested possessions, 14th for clearances, 13th for inside 50s and 13th for scores per inside 50. It makes for concerning reading whichever way you look at it. Dawson, Laird, Rankine and Keays aside, Adelaide’s on-ball brigade lacked depth, which is why they brought in Neal-Bullen, Cumming and Peatling to “thicken the soup”. That trio can play a variety of other roles as well, giving Nicks added flexibility. Significant injuries to key pillars of their defence in Jordon Butts, Wayne Milera, Nick Murray and Josh Worrell didn’t help either, so with a clean run at it for all of those men, Adelaide will be hoping for enhanced resistance down back.

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ONE TO WATCH
Thilthorpe looked set for a huge season last year, but a knee injury on the eve of Round 1 sidelined him for four months. However, when he came back looking like the Incredible Hulk with one of the biggest frames in the league, he gave everyone a taste of what could’ve been. He might’ve only played seven games, but he registered his best goal average for a season (two) and proved a handful for opposition backlines. If he can take that form into 2025, a maiden 50-goal season isn’t out of the question.

UNDER THE PUMP
Brodie Smith has been a reliable servant of the club for 15 years, but the veteran defender finished last season in the SANFL, with the likes of Bond and James Borlase getting game time ahead of him. With Milera available again, and the recruitment of Cumming, Smith at 33 could struggle for regular selection.

BEST 23
B: Max Michalanney, Jordon Butts, Josh Worrell
HB: Isaac Cumming, Nick Murray, Wayne Milera
C: Lachlan Sholl, Rory Laird, Izak Rankine
HF: Alex Neal-Bullen, Darcy Fogarty, Ben Keays
F: Josh Rachele, Riley Thilthorpe, Taylor Walker
R: Reilly O’Brien, Jordan Dawson, Jake Soligo
Inter: Matt Crouch, Chayce Jones, Sam Berry, James Peatling, Mitch Hinge
Emerg: Mark Keane, Luke Nankvervis, Lachlan Murphy

Competition for spots in the key defensive posts is fierce and, at this stage, Mark Keane is the unlucky one who finds himself out of the 23, despite playing almost every game last year. Milera back in defence, after a knee injury ruined his 2024 campaign, is a sight for sore eyes and key recruits Neal-Bullen, Cumming and Peatling all slot into the best 23. With the likes of Curtin, Bond, Smith, Taylor, Dowling, Harry Schoenberg, Cook and Borlase all missing out, it shows that the Crows have decent depth for season 2025.

*all team stat rankings mentioned are based on differentials, not totals (apart from overall offence and defence).