Good is often the barrier of great.

That was the message from Crows coach Don Pyke in his opening address at Adelaide’s Club Champion presentation dinner on Friday evening.

In just his first season as an AFL senior coach, Pyke guided Adelaide to fifth on the ladder – its best result at the end of a home and away season since 2012 – and to its maiden finals victory at Adelaide Oval.

The Crows also finished as the highest scoring team in the competition and had six players selected in the All Australian squad.

But Pyke said Adelaide couldn’t be content, stressing complacency as the enemy of progress as the Club continues to strive towards the ultimate team success.

“We sit here somewhat satisfied with what we have achieved, but in no way content,” Pyke said.

“People get comfortable being good. If we, as a footy club, are going to sit back and pat each other on the back and say it’s been a really good year and well done, we won’t progress.

“The reality is we need to progress if we aspire to achieve great things.”

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While not fully satisfied with his debut season at the helm, Pyke said a strong foundation was now in place for future seasons.

But Pyke said it was now the duty of players and coaches to continue to improve on and off the field.

“We have to continue to look for new ways and new methods that can take things that we worked on this year, which were successful and learn from other clubs and learn from other sports to ensure that we remain at the cutting edge in our industry,” Pyke said.

“We’ve got to keep building and living our trademarks.

“We have to improve our fundamentals; our basic fundamentals of playing the game are really what holds you in high stead come high pressure situations, which is what finals is all about.”

Making good footballers is one thing, but according to Pyke, making great people is just as important in building a successful club environment.

“We’ve got to continue to educate our players and educate them on leadership so they are able to drive the elite expectations we have as a footy club,” Pyke said.

“When we talk about our players, we talk now in a really holistic fashion. We’re not a footy club that believes in just trying to produce good footballers, we’re about producing great people.

“The reason why that’s important is because that’s what allows them to only have success (at the Crows) but also future life.”