New Adelaide Coaching Director Murray Davis says he is settling into life in Adelaide well, with the players’ desire to improve impressing him early.

Davis was on the training track as the Crows’ whole squad returned for pre-season training at West Lakes on Monday.

The experienced assistant, who spent the past 13 years with Brisbane, was appointed Adelaide’s new Coaching Director in October.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Davis said the transition from the Lions’ den to the Crows’ nest had been smooth.

He said all involved in Adelaide’s football department, from the players to the coaches and staff, were working hard to get better.

“Everyone has been very welcoming,” Davis said.

“There’s a lot of good people here, I’ve learnt that really quickly and there’s a lot of people who are really, really driven and that’s one of the things that attracted me to the role.

“He’s (Nicksy) been terrific. I’m getting to know him and all the coaches (and) from what I’ve seen in the early days, he’s very invested in making sure we improve.

“What I have been impressed by is how connected the group is and how hard they’re working, that’s been one thing I’ve observed.”

Davis has a well-rounded coaching journey, having mentored the Lions’ forward line for the past two seasons and prior to that their defenders for a decade.

He has also worked in Brisbane’s development team and coached in his own right, which included leading the NT Thunder to a NEAFL premiership in 2011.

As part of the newly-created role at the Crows, Davis will work closely with the coaching cohort, as it seeks to deliver an improved on-field performance.

Davis said he was looking forward to a new challenge after more than a decade with Brisbane.

“My main role is to be here to support the coaching group, starting with Nicksy and all the coaches, and just working closely with those guys on how we get better and how we improve,” Davis said.

“There are challenges at every football club, so it’s just making sure we don’t deviate and we keep focused and aligned.

“It’s a long season and you can’t really lose belief… You can see that in this group, they’re driven, they want to keep improving, so that’s a good trait to have.

“I’m sad to leave Brisbane, but it was time for me to make a difference and that’s what I’m here for.”

Davis said he was also keen to begin building relationships with the players, as they looked towards their 2025 campaign.

“Not anyone in particular, I think the whole group, that’s my role as coaching director, clearly I’ll work closely with the coaches but I also have to build a relationship with the players.

“Izak Rankine is one who I’ve had a bit to do with coaching against him when he was at Gold Coast and he hurt us (Brisbane) last year, too, in games, he’s a talented player.”