Crows in line to vault up ladder

The platform has slowly been raised, so now the Crows just have to launch.

Seemingly every year, one club jumps from outside the eight to become a serious flag contender.

Last year, the GWS Giants leapt from 16th to a preliminary final.

In 2022, Collingwood did the same from 17th.

Smaller leaps have been common too – Melbourne finished ninth in 2020 and won it all in 2021.

After missing the top eight thanks to a bungled goal umpire call, Adelaide might just be in prime position to be vault towards the top.

Dual premiership captain Mark Bickley sees the Crows as a finalist this year but is still cautious about Matthew Nicks’ defence.

“That is probably the area that they are vulnerable,” he said.

No team scored more than the Crows last year.

But Adelaide also ranked ninth for points against and 14th for points conceded from stoppages.

Nicks will be forced to cobble together enough of a defence around Jordon Butts, Mark Keane, top draftee Daniel Curtin, returning Nick Murray and Josh Worrell.

“I know they have spent a lot of time on their team defence and trying to defend better across the whole ground and I think if they improve that by a couple of goals and are able to maintain their scoring power, it gives them a huge chance to pick up the three games they need to consolidate in the topeight,” Bickley said.

The Crows have enough scoring power at the other end, with Taylor Walker and young stars Josh Rachele and Izak Rankine leading the way.

Whether Rachele, Rankine or the rising Luke Pedlar can become difference makers in the midfield could raise the bar for the Crows.