ADELAIDE coach Brenton Sanderson has praised the willingness of his players to learn and absorb new ideas as he prepares for Saturday night's NAB Cup Grand Final against West Coast at AAMI Stadium.

Sanderson told SEN on Thursday morning that the openness of his players was apparent from the first time he brought the playing group together.

"They're very easy to coach and receptive to learning," he said. "Not that we've changed that much, but they've been fantastic from the day I walked in the door and started teaching them a new style of play."

The first year of coaching at AFL senior level can be daunting, but Sanderson said the playing group had made his first few months much easier.

"They've been incredible in the way they've wanted to learn and wanted to change, particularly the older ones who are really desperate to learn a new way to play," he said.

When asked what are the characteristics of the Adelaide game-plan, Sanderson said it was all about proper execution of the basics of the game.

"The game is changing a little bit; it's been so defensive the last couple of years with the press and the pressure on the ball carrier, so we're just trying to do the basics well."

"Win the contests, move the ball forward and outnumbering the opposition at every contest we're at," he said.

You can follow AFL Media senior writer Ashley Browne on Twitter @afl_hashbrowne