Riley Knight says Adelaide’s young guns will provide the final push for the club’s next flag

ADELAIDE must look beyond leaders Rory Sloane and Tex Walker as it aims for a premiership, says Riley Knight. And he knows just who must stand up to carry that dream forward.

Adelaide’s Matt Crouch of the Crows (right) and Western Bulldogs Mitch Wallis clash during the Round 16 AFL match at Adelaide Oval. Picture AAP /David Mariuz.

RILEY Knight concedes the final surge for a third Adelaide flag will come from its young midfield cohort, emerging from the shadow of club champion Rory Sloane.

Knight, 22, regards Adelaide’s leadership ensemble as the best in the business but no more can be asked of skipper Taylor Walker and deputy Sloane.

“Our leaders are always striving to get better but the main growth and next step for us as a footy club is to come from below,’’ said Knight, with utility Alex Keath to debut against the Cats tonight at Adelaide Oval.

“It’s Matt and Brad Crouch, Charlie Cameron, Hugh Greenwood — our younger players.”

“We have really good players coming through who can be the key to success over the next three or four years.”

The Crouch brothers have been instrumental in Adelaide’s consecutive wins against Carlton, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne.

The Ballarat siblings average 12 contested possessions and five clearances a game, along with Sloane this season.

Rookie Greenwood’s tackle count at 7.71 per game now rivals Sloane’s eight this season.

“We have worked hard on getting the contest side of our game right as that is what will unfold in finals,” said Sloane.

There is nothing to suggest we can’t go all the way this year.”

Sloane has been the ultimate club man dealing with hard tags that allow others to get off the chain.

“If he’s not having a great day or getting tagged he is very selfless with his role on the ground,” said Knight of Sloane.

“Outside of matches he checks in with the SANFL guys, goes over things with AFL guys. He brings great leadership, similar to Tex (Walker).”