An intense American training camp with UFC competitor Kyle Noke shows the sacrifice midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen is willing to make to secure a regular spot in the Adelaide engine room.

Ahead of what he describes as a "make-or-break year", Ellis-Yolmen knows he needs a massive season to establish himself in the AFL.

"I'm treating next season as a make-or-break year for me and I'm doing everything in my power to make a success of it,'' Ellis-Yolmen told The Advertiser.

"There's a spot available in the midfield and I want to take it.

"I'm not satisfied with playing just two games last season.

"I want to make 2017 my year and I've shown what it means to me by travelling to America off my own back in order to take my game to the next level.

"It's the last year of my contract and I want to show that I can play at the top level for a whole season and become a permanent fixture in the Crows side.

"I'm ready for that.''

The 23-year-old played just two matches last season, but is in line to fill the gap left by Jarryd Lyons' move to Gold Coast.

The Crows also missed out on securing Carlton star Bryce Gibbs and Suns recruit Michael Barlow.

Ellis-Yolmen travelled to the US with Crows teammate Hugh Greenwood, the former Australian under-19 basketballer setting up the training camp with Noke at the University of New Mexico.

"The training was incredibly intense — there were times where I felt dizzy and vomited — but having gone through it I just feel so much better than when I left," Ellis-Yolmen said.

"I'm fitter and stronger and ready to make my mark next season.''