Putting the pieces in place

The Crows have overhauled their football department, going from a club players want to leave to a breeding ground for sustained success.

ONE player can leave an AFL club for a myriad of reasons. Money, the go-home factor, a fall-out with a team-mate, maybe even the coach.

 Two players go and the conspiracy theories begin. The football manager feels the fans' heat for having players out of contract.

Three leave . . . and it is an "exodus". Now the chief executive must go.

The Adelaide FC seemed a departure lounge in October.

Forward Jack Gunston, after just 14 games with the Crows, was picked off by Hawthorn.

Centre half-back Phil Davis saw more promise in counting money at new AFL franchise Greater Western Sydney than in marking wins towards a flag at Adelaide.

Nathan Bock did the same with Gold Coast in 2010.

Ivan Maric rushed to Richmond to fulfil his desire to be a No. 1 ruckman.

Tony Armstrong packed his troubles to Sydney.

And Patrick Dangerfield, Kurt Tippett, Rory Sloane and David Mackay - critical pieces in the Adelaide line-up - might have followed considering they were falling out of contract this year.

Also on the doorstep was free agency, allowing seasoned players to walk to the club of their choice without difficult trade bartering.

Dangerfield's signature on a three-year contract this week changes the script - and the perception of the Adelaide Football Club.

It is more than a loyal act from Dangerfield, who decided in the pre-season the Crows had the best environment to fulfil his unquestioned potential. He even took less money than Geelong could have offered to join another outstanding football model that is closer to his home at Moggs Creek.

This is the ultimate vote in confidence in the Crows, a club not bogged down by tradition nor scared to change. And it was sealed even before Adelaide was unbeaten through the pre-season to win the NAB Cup and made a club record 7-1 start in the AFL season.

Adelaide's refit of its football program went far beyond hiring Brenton Sanderson as Neil Craig's successor as senior coach.

This was the big renovation at West Lakes. It was football's version of The Block in a housing estate that now has 17 rivals for Adelaide, some blessed with AFL support.

Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg looks over the plans today with satisfaction in how the Crows have underpinned the foundation for their football program.

"We wanted to carefully address the mix in our coaching staff," he says.

Dean Bailey arrived with a wealth of experiences as a senior coach at Melbourne and an assistant coach at Port Adelaide.

Geelong premiership player Darren Milburn followed Sanderson to West Lakes to start his assistant coaching career working with the zone most wrecked by the "exodus" - Adelaide's stripped defence.

The development of young defender Sam Shaw and Daniel Talia and the revival of veteran Brent Reilly - the one who publicly declared his boredom at West Lakes - is a significant statement on Adelaide's football program.

Behind the coaches is a beefed-up development team.

"We've put more emphasis on mentoring," says Trigg. "We've freshened up our leadership program - and players' personal leadership development."

Matthew Clarke and, in a part-time role, Andrew McLeod have joined Peter Jonas, Tate Kaesler and the renowned Alan Stewart in Adelaide's development program.

Former Richmond ruckman Patrick Steinfort was hired to remodel the Crows' leadership program.

After two seasons of above league average injury rates Adelaide recast its fitness program.

Nick Poulos was found in Qatar to take charge of strength and conditioning - and the biggest compliment came a fortnight ago when Victorian commentators noted the Crows players appeared bigger and stronger than their Carlton rivals.

Ex-player Matthew Bode is now a full-time rehabilitation coach at West Lakes where players are being reconditioned to avert a quick return to the injury list.

"It's a significant refit," says Trigg.