Nathan van Berlo's champion comeback

NATHAN van Berlo was put through a searching test of character last year. This year, things are very different.

Nathan Van Berlo

NATHAN van Berlo was put through a searching test of character last year.

In his first year as Adelaide captain, the 25-year-old was in charge of a playing group responsible for the club's worst win-loss record (7-15).

And then there was the demise of Crows coach Neil Craig, something which drew plenty of emotion from van Berlo given his relationship with the club's previous mentor.

Suddenly, with his side sitting third, it would be easy for van Berlo to leave behind his season from hell. Not so.

"It certainly makes a difference to the environment with the way the results have panned out," van Berlo said.

"But I know there was a lot of talk last year from us externally about maintaining consistency and that when we come through the tough times we had that we would be a much more hardened group and more mature group.

"That's probably been the most pleasing thing as one of the senior players, how well the group hung together last year when times were tough and how we came back in a good frame of mind last year for the start of pre-season.

"Now we're starting to see the results from that."

There's been plenty of talk about how new coach Brenton Sanderson has rejuvenated the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Taylor Walker and Brent Reilly.

But even van Berlo has lifted a notch by performing his role as the Crows' "accountable mid", negating the opposition's star midfielder while finding plenty of the ball himself.

"It's been good to just be playing my role in the side," van Berlo said.

"Sando has been keen for us to have that defensive mindset when we play because if you have good defence you get quality turnovers and that's where you can generate the majority of your score from."

From an external point of view this year, it appears the "tagger" is back.

Port Adelaide's Kane Cornes has been outstanding in the past fortnight against Brent Harvey and Gary Ablett while Fremantle's Ryan Crowley, St Kilda's Clint Jones, Melbourne's Jordie McKenzie and Brisbane's Andrew Raines have all been at their negative best.

But whether any rival can be mentioned in the same discussion as Cats premiership captain Cameron Ling remains in question.

"Some weeks it may be more of a shut down role whereas other weeks it might be a matter of being accountable while winning some ball the other way," van Berlo said.

"That's the way accountable midfielders are going to have to go and have that ability to win your own footy (like Ling)."

"But your job is made easier when you have good team defence, in that your team-mates are able to roll over onto your player if you get caught behind."

It is this strong sense of helping your mate which has van Berlo excited about the future at West Lakes.

While there has been no formal discussion about winning a premiership, the Crows skipper says a strong sense of belief is building.

"It's not written in stone anywhere but I would like to think that we've been through enough already as a young playing group to know the rewards are there if we are prepared to stick it out again," said van Berlo, who said there is a "different feel" in this group compared to the one he experienced in 2005 and 06 when the Crows played in consecutive preliminary finals.

"Now we've just got to keep our core group of players together so we can form an experienced group which moulds together over the coming years so we can build some sustained success at the club."

At least van Berlo's mother can rest easy today.

While she will naturally be disappointed her son, Jay, was dropped from Fremantle's side to face Adelaide at Patersons Stadium, there will be no threat of an on-field family conflict to be concerned about.

"Mum certainly gets very nervous coming up to game day," said Nathan, the eldest of three van Berlo boys.

"We're under strict instructions what not to do to each other."

Unlike his older brother, Jay has battled to nail down a consistent place in the Dockers' best 22, playing 32 games in four seasons.

He has only played two matches this season, in round eight and nine. But there's no doubting he benefits from the consistent support provided by the Crows captain.

"I chat with Jay pretty regularly on all things - footy as well, obviously," Nathan said.

"It's been great to see him getting a game in the last couple of weeks and I know he's been working really hard on playing some good footy in the WAFL."

While disappointed he will not get another chance to confront his brother, Nathan said his youngest sibling, Mitchell, still had not forgiven the pair for their loving embrace two years ago.

That came after their first on-field meeting in round one 2010, when the Dockers thrashed the Crows by 56 points in Western Australia. "I remember the first game, over at Subiaco, we didn't even come across each other," Nathan recalled.

"I shook his (Jay's) hand, gave him a hug and said, 'well done, mate'.

"My younger brother said, `what are you doing out there doing that? You need to be more competitive out there and showing a bit more against each other'."