Three Crows stars flying in pre-season show how far ahead the team is compared to the same time last year

The signs and symbolism at Crows training at Footy Park on Thursday was an unmissable reminder of how far the team has come before a ball has even been bounced next season.

• Crows number reveal: Big shoes to fill for McAdam
• Crows launch indigenous female football academy
• Where is your club on the age ladder?

The signs and symbolism at Crows training at Footy Park on Thursday was an unmissable reminder of how far the team has come before a ball has even been bounced next season.

For starters it’s still November and the senior players have two full weeks of pre-season in their legs. And that’s official weeks, not counting what they did in their time off which by all reports was far from a holiday.

This time last year they hadn’t even reported for duty yet with a December 4 return date after the grand final, and even then some showed up out of shape.

For three senior players, their injuries and subsequent rehabilitation restricted them for much of the year.

Brad Crouch, Taylor Walker and Brodie Smith all finished top-10 in Adelaide’s best and fairest in 2017 but managed just 16 games between them in 2018.

How different they all look now.

Brad Crouch training at Footy Park which is being demolished. Picture: Simon Cross.

Crouch, who did not play a game at any level with a groin injury in 2018, is running freely with the main group, as is Smith who fought so hard to return from a knee reconstruction late in the year and Walker who did a mini pre-season before pre-season even began.

Walker missed most of last pre-season and played catch-up right up until his season ended with suspension in Round 21 after 14 games — his lowest tally since doing his knee in 2013.

He booked in for planta fascia surgery in August and immediately set about dropping weight and getting fit. The results at cursory glance at least, are obvious.

Walker looks lean, explosive and agile again. On Thursday he did full-ground kicking drills and went forward one-out where he led strongly, marked at full pace and turned sharply on his feet.

For Smith, simply running this pre-season is a win. This time last year he was still in the pool, two months post-knee reco and not knowing when if at all he would play in 2018.

“I was actually excited for pre-season for once,” Smith said after training on Thursday.

He did get back and played two games despite the temptation of wrapping himself in cotton wool knowing the Crows probably wouldn’t play finals.

And it was a masterstroke. That work led to Smith running a 2km TT time last week that was faster than before his injury, his leg muscles haven’t shrunk and his body weight is where he wants it to be.

“I guess I did a pre-season three months ago so I came into this off-season pretty fit,” he said.

“I had a good game against the Giants (29 disposals) and that gave me the confidence that I can get back to my best.

“It was really good for me because now I’m not waiting for JLT and Round 1 to be my comeback games, I’ve got them out of the way. so it feels like I’m going into a fresh season.”

Brodie Smith’s 2km time trial is faster than the pre-season before his injury in a good sign for the running half-back’s return to the top level after a knee reconstruction. Picture: Simon Cross.

After a horror year of injury that started last pre-season, the Crows’ list is largely healthy with only Jordan Gallucci (toe), Kyle Hartigan (knee) and David Mackay (achilles) sidelined and none of their setbacks are considered serious.

As well as the fresh legs there are fresh faces — which combined with the bulldozers demolishing the grandstands as they trained at Footy Park — represent the fresh start the Crows are embracing this summer.

The draftees were unmistakeable by their bodyshapes. Lightly built but quick on their feet and with the skills you’d expect from a top selection.

”Which is worrying,” Smith said with a smile.

“We’ve drafted a lot of running half-backs, I might have to rough a couple of them up.

“Their skills have been really good, everyone’s skills for November have been at elite standards so it’s good signs — the young guys are hitting targets left and right feet.”

The rejuvenation at West Lakes is not just in the legs but in the players’ heads. Unlike last season when they struggled with high expectations, Smith says they’re relishing being the hunters again.

What pressure? Cameron Ellis-Yolmen and Riley Knight bump into each other at training on Thursday. Smith says the Crows are embracing being the hunters again this year.

“I think it’s the other way around this year,” he said.

“We came back last year and were feeling the pressure to get back to that grand final, but we feel like it’s a fresh start now and we’ve got a point to prove.

“I think we feel like we’re hunting now and trying to get ourselves back in that top eight and top four spot.

“And we know if we do everything right in pre-season now and get fit, there’s no reason we can’t be one of the best teams next year.”