Phil Walsh’s message to Adelaide’s players ahead of Thursday night's encounter against Hawthorn is simple: be brave or bust.

Walsh rates the Hawks as the best team in the competition, and says the only hope in beating the reigning premiers is through brave ball movement.

Walsh saw that bravery in the Club's win over Carlton before its Round 11 bye, remembering a play in the final quarter against the Blues, where his side risked losing deep in defence to generate a lead-giving score.

Weaving in analogies from three different sports, Walsh insisted that courage needed to be demonstrated again on Thursday night.

"I remember years ago the great Michael Jordan commercial about how many times he's missed the shot but again, he wanted the ball in his hands – you've got to have that attitude," Walsh said.

"This is formula one footy, if you want to drive safe, you're going to finish last.

"To ultimately win games, the way teams defend now, you have to go back to a braver ball movement."

The coach said the re-signings of Rory Sloane and Richard Douglas this week had created a "buzz" around the Club, although he wouldn't be drawn into commenting on the future of Patrick Dangerfield, who remains out of contract at the end of the season.

Walsh managed a few days' break over the bye, but predictably spent many hours reviewing his side's season and working out how to improve.

The two key areas he identified in need of addressing were the team's skills and its team defence, but conceded that a push to improve skills during the season can play games with a player's mind. 

"The more you talk about it and the more it's out there in the media and the more the players hear about it, it's a little bit like it's front of mind," Walsh said.

"We're really telling players, ‘look let's just go for it', we want to take the game on, we want to play fast football – if we make mistakes, we'll wear that."