Best 22
B: Luke Brown, Daniel Talia, Ricky Henderson
HB: Brodie Smith, Kyle Hartigan, Matthew Jaensch
C: Nathan van Berlo, Scott Thompson, David Mackay
HF: Tom Lynch, Josh Jenkins, Richard Douglas
F: Eddie Betts, Taylor Walker, James Podsiadly
Foll: Sam Jacobs, Rory Sloane, Patrick Dangerfield
I/C: Brad Crouch, Rory Laird, Matthew Wright
Sub: Charlie Cameron 

Health of the list
Except for Brad Crouch (foot) and Andy Otten (knee), the Crows could have all their first-choice players available for round one. Scott Thompson (hamstring) is touch and go, as is Sam Kerridge (hamstring), while Crouch will miss the opening two months of the season after having foot surgery. Brent Reilly is slowly recovering from a fractured skull.

The big questions

-Will Patrick Dangerfield stay or go? He's not Adelaide's only out-of-contract star but the speculation that Dangerfield might leave the Crows has certainly been stronger than that of Rory Sloane. No question will be asked as often this year as whether Dangerfield intends to extend his contract. 

-Can the Crows find consistency under new coach Phil Walsh? They have the talent to play finals footy but over the past few years the side's fluctuating form has hurt it badly. It's a simple scenario: if Adelaide plays to its potential each week it will easily make the eight.

-How will they handle their lack of height in defence? Daniel Talia was the League's All Australian full back last year and rightly so, however key defender assets at West Lakes are light on. Kyle Hartigan is developing and there's hope in Jake Lever but for the time being the club remains vulnerable to big, powerful forwards.

Summer standout
Big-bodied midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen has taken a number of years to develop into a player worthy of regular senior selection but he appears to have taken that step over the pre-season. His mix of size and speed make him a force on the inside and his NAB Challenge form was terrific.

Fantasy cash cow
Former skipper Nathan van Berlo has reached the end of the longest pre-season he's ever undergone after missing last year with a ruptured Achilles. He's worked incredibly hard to build the strength back up in his affected leg and his performances over the pre-season suggest he can play an important part in Adelaide's midfield.

Sudden impact
Although it's difficult to squeeze former Hawthorn defender Kyle Cheney into the club's best 22, if he starts the year in the SANFL it shouldn't take long for him to bust down the selection door and demand a senior spot. He has experience in one of the competition's greatest-ever teams and his competitiveness and commitment to the team is exactly what coach Phil Walsh is after.

It's crunch time for…
Left-footer Mitch Grigg is out of contract at the end of the year and while he's shown glimpses of real brilliance at senior level he hasn't managed to cement his place in the club's best side. The Crows' reliance on him as a sub in six of his nine games last year didn't help his form and he eventually dropped out of the team. The 22-year-old has weapons and is setting himself to break out this year.

Pivotal match
Round 12, v Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval. The Crows will face the Hawks at home after their round 11 bye and have to – at worst – perform well enough to boost their confidence. The game starts a tough run to the end of the season that could turn ugly if Adelaide's form slumps.

The Crows will have a good year if…
Given Adelaide's height issues in defence, the pressure its midfielders and forwards can apply will be crucial in restricting the opposition. One-on-one contests deep in defence against power forwards are rarely going to end well for the Crows, so the players higher up the ground have to ensure the opposition's entry is compromised.

AFL.com.au consensus predicted ladder finish: Ninth

Premiership clock: The Crows are not yet in their window, but do have solid foundations in place for future success.