State League coach Heath Younie says the 2019 SANFL Crows season was full of success, despite the team not making the grand final.

Adelaide’s SANFL season came to a close on Sunday after losing to Glenelg in the preliminary final.

The third-place finish was a big rise from 2018, where the team claimed victory in just one game and received the wooden spoon.

Younie said the season was a win overall, because of how the players progressed throughout the year.

“We spoke about how each one of those guys, whether it is a development player or a first, second year player – I think they are better players than what they were when they started.

“Our guys are better players, from Patty Wilson, through to Chayce Jones, Lachie Sholl... they are better players than they were when they first started.

“That’s really important for us and we only see that as a real positive.”

Until last month, the majority of the team had never played on Adelaide Oval or in a senior football finals series before.

Younie believed the experience his players gained during the finals would spur the young players on for 2020.

“I always said, irrespective of how far we went, what great opportunities for our guys to play on the big stage,” Younie said.

“For our first and second year guys, especially the ones that haven’t tasted AFL, that’s just going to drive them for the pre-season and no doubt they will be better for the experience.”