Sarah Allan knows she isn’t the loudest person in Adelaide’s AFLW team.

But the defender prefers to lead by example on and off the field, rather than with her voice.

“I am not the loudest person in the team,” Allan told AFC Media.

“But I am sort of just that person who, on the ground, definitely leads by example with the way I play.

“Then, off the field, I like to continue that standard by leading by example for the team as well.

“I think there are multiple ways to be a leader and I think it’s important that there are diverse leaders in a group to help the group be successful.”

Allan is set to enter her sixth campaign with the Crows, having been selected at the inaugural AFLW draft in October 2016.

Although it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the 23-year-old who found herself in and out of the side in the first two seasons.

After playing as a midfielder/forward during her junior career, a growth spurt led her to playing in the ruck.

But she found it hard to take over the No.1 ruck spot at West Lakes and it was a switch to defence that helped her cement a spot in the side.

Now, about two months out from the new campaign kicking off, Allan is using her experiences to help the new draftees and recruits settle into life as a Crow.

“Having the new players come in, I sort of put myself in that position and think ‘what was it like for me to be in that spot?’,” she said.

“I really feel like I can help develop those younger players and use my experiences.

“In the first season, I was in and out of the team, struggling to make that spot mine.

“I think a team’s success is built off people who play their role for the greater good of the team.

“Now I’m very fortunate that I have cemented a spot in the team and now I want to help develop the younger players to do the same.”

Allan said players were working hard to improve during the pre-season and were eagerly awaiting the 2022 season kick off on January 8.

“Every year of AFLW is improving dramatically so we have to make sure we stay with the rest of the competition,” Allan said.

“We really pride ourselves on having a great culture at the Club and we will continue to build that each year, bringing new girls in.

“With the way our competition is, we don’t have that much time and especially the way our training schedules are, so one thing that helps culture is we like to make the most of every minute we have at the Club.

“I think we are just really grateful for the time we have and to spend with our teammates that we make the most of each minute we get.

“We’ve been very fortunate with the success we’ve had but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be given to us, we really have to work hard for that.”