Ladder position: 3^rd (Eight wins, two losses)

Results
Round One, Adelaide 19.23 (137) d Gold Coast 10.8 (68), Metricon Stadium
Round Two, Adelaide 11.16 (82) d Western Bulldogs 9.10 (64), AAMI Stadium
Round Three, Adelaide 12.12 (84) lost to Hawthorn 21.14 (140), MCG
Round Four, Adelaide 13.18 (96) d Greater Western Sydney 7.8 (50), AAMI Stadium
Round Five, Adelaide 16.14 (110) d Port Adelaide 14.7 (91), AAMI Stadium
Round Six, Adelaide 15.9 (99) d Sydney Swans 14.10 (94), SCG
Round Seven, Adelaide 19.8 (122) d Geelong 10.12 (72), AAMI Stadium
Round Eight, Adelaide 19.10 (124) d Carlton 8.7 (55), Etihad Stadium
Round Nine, Adelaide 6.13 (49) lost to Collingwood 10.15 (75), AAMI Stadium
Round 10, Adelaide 17.9 (111) d Fremantle 12.10 (82), Patersons Stadium

Debutants
Sam Kerridge (Hawthorn, Round Three), one game
Sam Shaw (Greater Western Sydney, Round Four), two games
Jarryd Lyons (Port Adelaide, Round Five), three games
Josh Jenkins (Geelong, Round Seven), four games
*Tom Lynch (Gold Coast, Round One), four games

*Denotes Crows debut

Played every game
Patrick Dangerfield
Michael Doughty
Sam Jacobs
Jared Petrenko
Brent Reilly
Ben Rutten
Rory Sloane
Brodie Smith
Daniel Talia
Scott Thompson
Kurt Tippett
Nathan van Berlo

Statistical leaders
Goals: Taylor Walker (27), Kurt Tippett (20), Ian Callinan (15)
Marks: Brent Reilly (59), Kurt Tippett (54), Taylor Walker (49)
Tackles: Nathan van Berlo (73), Rory Sloane (56), Scott Thompson (48), David Mackay (48)
Clearances: Patrick Dangerfield (74), Scott Thompson (68), Nathan van Berlo (45)
Contested possessions: Patrick Dangerfield (161), Scott Thompson (142), Rory Sloane (115)
Contested marks: Kurt Tippett (26), Taylor Walker (15), Brent Reilly (11)
Inside 50ms: Patrick Dangerfield (57), Rory Sloane (46), Scott Thompson (41)
Dream Team points: Scott Thompson (1086), Rory Sloane (1006), Patrick Dangerfield (969)

The story so far …
New coach Brenton Sanderson boldly predicted a “quick spike” in improvement when he took the reins in September, but not even ‘Sando’ could’ve foreseen just how quick - and big - a spike it would be. After a pre-season focus on becoming physically stronger and more adept at winning one-on-one contests, the harder-edged Crows gave Sanderson a dream start to his coaching career, winning the NAB Cup and then four of their first five games of the season proper.

The victories came against bottom-eight teams of last year, Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide and newcomers Greater Western Sydney, prompting wary critics to question Adelaide’s credentials. But a spirited win against the previously unbeaten Swans in Sydney and subsequent victories over top-eight teams of 2011, Geelong, Carlton and Fremantle saw the Club record its best-ever start to a season and went a way towards convincing the football world the Crows would be tough to beat in 2012.

However, Adelaide’s two losses to premiership fancies Hawthorn and Collingwood indicate there’s still much work to be done at West Lakes.

Breaking out
Improvement across the board has contributed to Adelaide’s superb start to the season, but several young players in particular have enjoyed a dramatic rise to stardom in 2012. An explosive ball winner, Patrick Dangerfield always had the potential to become a game-breaker and he has delivered on that in the first half of the season. In his fifth year at the Club, Dangerfield has relished a greater role in the midfield, ranking No.1 in the AFL in hard-ball gets and clearances and second in contested possession. He earned top votes in the AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year award in rounds five, six and eight and has shortened significantly in the Brownlow Medal odds. Another onballer enjoying his best season to-date is Rory Sloane. The curly blond-haired Crow is averaging 23.9 possessions a game, and collected a career-high 33 touches and three goals against Fremantle in Round 10. Ruckman Sam Jacobs has continued his steady climb to elite status, ranking No.1 in the competition for hit-outs to advantage, while forward Taylor Walker - who has added consistency and a stronger defensive element to his game - has kicked 24 goals to be third in the Coleman Medal race. Added to the Crows emerging leaders group prior to the season, Jared Petrenko has found his niche as a defensive forward, setting the tone for his teammates with his physicality and uncompromising attack on the body and the ball. while young full-back Daniel Talia has impressed with his poise under pressure against the League’s best forwards.

Changing places
A few of the Club’s more senior players have also been rejuvenated in new roles under Sanderson. In his 11^th year at West Lakes, Brent Reilly qualified for and received Life Membership before the start of the season. The 28-year-old has found career-best form playing across half-back, with his intercept marking a highlight. Skipper Nathan van Berlo has been restored in his role as a negating midfielder, regularly nullifying the opposition’s best onballer while also gathering plenty of touches.

Best win
It’s hard to go past the Round Six win over the Swans at the SCG. After a strong first quarter, in which Adelaide kicked five goals to Sydney’s one, the visitors slipped seven points behind at three-quarter time and appeared in danger of being overrun in front of a vocal pre-Swans crowd. Instead, the Crows kicked four unanswered goals to snatch back the lead in the last quarter. The Swans came again, but desperate acts including a chase from Taylor Walker and saving mark in defence from Brent Reilly saw Adelaide hold on for a nail-biting five-point win - the Club’s 12^th win from its last 14 starts at the SCG.

Off the field
After losing centre half-backs Nathan Bock and Phil Davis to new teams Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney in the consecutive seasons, the Crows have received some good news on the contract front so far in 2012. Jared Petrenko and Brodie Smith got the ball rolling, agreeing to new deals at the start of the season. Star midfielder Patrick Dangerfield ended speculation over his future by signing a three-year deal in May and that was closely followed by the news Matt Jaensch and 2010 best and fairest winner Richard Douglas had also committed to the Club. Following a career-best performance against Fremantle in Round 10, Rory Sloane added to the queue of players re-signing, agreeing to a further three years.

Ones to watch
Adelaide’s good form and blessed run with injuries to-date has made breaking into the team difficult for players performing strongly in the SANFL. Brodie Martin, Brad Symes, Shaun McKernan, Chris Knights, Andy Otten, Aidan Riley, Richard Tambling and Luke Thompson are among the players unlucky not to have received greater opportunities in the opening 10 rounds. The Crows have managed to unearth four debutants, but fans are also eager to get their first look at draftee Luke Brown, strong pre-season performer Tim McIntyre and trade-week recruit Lewis Johnston.

The road ahead
Round 12, vs St Kilda at AAMI Stadium
Round 13, vs North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium
Round 14, vs Richmond at AAMI Stadium
Round 15, vs Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium (‘away’ game)
Round 16, vs GWS Giants at Skoda Stadium
Round 17, vs West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium
Round 18, vs Geelong Cats at Simonds Stadium
Round 19, vs Essendon at AAMI Stadium
Round 20, vs Fremantle at AAMI Stadium
Round 21, vs Brisbane Lions at the Gabba
Round 22, vs Melbourne at MCG
Round 23, vs Gold Coast Suns at AAMI Stadium