Adelaide’s 2019 draft crop has been at West Lakes for less than two months, but their personal values and positive character traits are already adding value to the football club.

While a Sherrin is yet to be bounced in Season 2020, these new Crows have tasked themselves with helping to drive high standards across the playing group.

Senior coach Matthew Nicks has empowered every player to lead, from captain Rory Sloane and his leadership group down to the rookies on the list, and his positive energy is transferring across to many in the group. 

“Nicksy’s encouraging guys to be themselves and constantly just work for each other. Do something for your teammate but do something for someone else,” Sloane told AFC Media.

“And not just inside the four walls too, which I think is a great quality to have in life.” 

18-year-olds Ronin O’Connor and Lachlan Gollant are two draftees who have clearly adopted Nicks’ philosophies through their everyday actions. 

After Nicks announced the 2020 leadership group to players and staff on Tuesday morning, he spoke about what the leaders would do for the rest of the playing group.

“They’re going to do some hard work for you. It’s executing high standards,” Nicks said. 

“What these guys are then going to do is align us all in doing that.”

He then posed a question to each of the 43 players in the room. 

“What do they need (from us)?” 

Without hesitation, O’Connor was the first to respond to the query, answering the senior coach with complete conviction.

“Support. Our backing,” he said.

“100 per cent,” Nicks agreed.

While it was a relatively minor act that would typically go unnoticed, the teenager’s willingness to speak up in front of his peers was telling given his limited time in the system.

"You want these guys to give their opinions and make us aware of what they’re feeling as well," Sloane said.

"Once they feel a bit more comfortable, that’s the time they can start having the input.

"That’s what we’re seeing now - these guys really speaking up and wanting to take this club to another level.”

At Tuesday’s Fan Fair, Gollant was stationed at the Toyota activation where Crows fans had the opportunity to design their dream car.

The young Victorian observed a family drawing on the vehicle for several minutes before taking the initiative to approach them and enhance their experience.

“Hi guys, I’ve been watching you do such a good job at drawing,” Gollant said to the young family with a beaming smile on his face.

“I want you to have these pencil prize packs to take home.”

Matthew Nicks’ team-first mentality of prioritising others and imploring players to “do something for someone else” is clearly resonating with Adelaide’s playing group. 

And as Nicks put to Gollant in Tuesday morning’s team meeting:

“We're heading the right direction, aren’t we?”