How the Crows can rise from semi-finalist to genuine premiership threat in 2026

The needs for Adelaide to take the next step from beaten semi-finalist to a genuine premiership threat appear obvious. But, who’s available? Or will it come from within?

What Adelaide need for 2026.

A gun midfielder. Another ruckman. A mobile forward. Sid Draper unleashed. Organic growth.

They seem like the obvious needs for Adelaide to take the next step from beaten semi-finalist to a genuine premiership threat.

The Crows’ engine room was exposed during this major round, continuing a late season trend that started at the source.

Minor premier Adelaide was -37 in clearances over its last six games and -8 in centre clearances.

Adelaide were beaten at the source in the finals. Picture: Getty Images

In the first half of his side’s away semi-final victory, gun Hawk Jai Newcombe had 10 contested possessions and seven clearances.

Adelaide’s on-ball unit to start the third term – Jordan Dawson, Jake Soligo and Sam Berry – had just six and four combined at the main break.

The Crows missed retired midfielder Matt Crouch’s ball-winning and clearance work.

Dawson was down in both matches, rated as the 27th and 24th best player on the ground this past fortnight.

You would expect more out of the captain and All-Australian, but the next tier could not fill the void.

Soligo ranked 38th and 16th, Berry was 10th and 40th, while the other main on-baller, James Peatling, was 33rd and 20th.

That mix has plenty of grunt, but lacks polish and speed.

Izak Rankine, who attended 40 per cent of Adelaide’s centre bounces this season, should help significantly when he returned from a four-game homophobic slur ban in round 2 next year.

But the Crows need another top-liner after being unable to lure St Kilda’s Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera home to South Australia.

Could they pry former All-Australian Zac Bailey, a Norwood junior, out of Brisbane with a year to run on his deal?

What about a Hail Mary play for Carlton star Sam Walsh?

While more of a half-forward than a pure on-baller, Bailey could provide much-needed dynamism and allow Rankine to increase his time in the middle.

Could Zac Bailey be a recruiting target? Picture: Getty Images

You could see why Adelaide tried to recruit Brisbane-bound Essendon big man Sam Draper – Reilly O’Brien’s limitations were shown up in finals.

The long-time Crows workhorse was rated 44th on the ground on Friday night, according to Champion Data, after being 25th against Collingwood.

His opponents, Lloyd Meek (second) and Darcy Cameron (fourth), were among the top five.

What is Adelaide’s ceiling with O’Brien, who is 30 and newly re-signed until the end of 2028, as its No. 1 ruckman?

Brisbane grand final hero Callum Ah Chee is a nice fit as the mobile medium forward that the Crows have not had since losing Shane McAdam at the end of 2023.

Ah Chee, 28 next month, booted four goals in the Lions’ flag win last year and was linked to Adelaide.

Sid Draper could get more opportunities in 2026. Picture: Getty Images

Callum Ah Chee would fill a need for the Crows. Picture: Getty Images

Speedster Sid Draper can be another point of difference next season.

The fourth pick in last year’s national draft was eased into his debut campaign at the Crows, getting subbed off or starting as the substitute in eight of his 10 AFL matches.

But you can envisage the club’s patient approach paying off with a Dan Curtin-like spike as a forward/midfielder.

As for the organic growth, that should come naturally given a host of Adelaide’s best players – Rankine (25), defender Josh Worrell (24), All-Australian forward Riley Thilthorpe (23), Soligo (22), livewire Josh Rachele (22), backman Max Michalanney (21) and Curtin (20) – are 25 or under.

Draper is 19.

The club Adelaide modelled its rebuild on, Brisbane, also lost in straight sets after ending a long finals drought in 2019.

In the Lions’ semi-final defeat to GWS that year, Charlie Cameron (25), Harris Andrews (22), Eric Hipwood (22), Hugh McCluggage (21), Jarrod Berry (21), Bailey (20) and Cam Rayner (19) were in the same age range as the aforementioned Crows.

They were key contributors to Brisbane’s flag last season.

The Crows have pick 14 in what observers consider a weaker draft to either add to its emerging group or as trade bait.

Originally published as How the Crows can rise from semi-finalist to genuine premiership threat in 2026