ADELAIDE'S Ian Callinan says the team's new brand of footy will help it achieve finals success, drawing comparisons to his legendary SANFL club Central District.
The SANFL side won nine premierships from 2000-2010 and has featured in every Grand Final since the turn of the millennium.
Callinan was a member of four straight SANFL flags, from 2007-2010, and said he could see similarities between the style that has seen the Bulldogs dominate a league for so long and the current Adelaide side.
"Centrals pride themselves on contested footy, they play probably a more one-on-one brand of footy whereas at AFL level it's a bit different to that," the 2005 J.J Liston Trophy winner said.
"AFL footy's all about contested footy now and if you can't play that contested style of footy you probably can't compete against the top sides.
"If you watch all the AFL finals, they're won on contested footy and we've made huge inroads in that and I'm sure we'll make a lot more during the year."
He said Adelaide's younger players have also stepped it up a notch over the pre-season.
"They've (the younger players) really got a taste of it over the pre-season and they've got a real hunger for it now," he said.
"We know that if we don't bring that game every week we'll get blown off the park."
As part of the most fruitful SANFL club in recent decades, Callinan's knowledge on how to build sustained success is invaluable, but he said his experience off the field could also be of great use to the Crows.
"I think it can be a huge asset," Callinan said.
"I see myself as trying to be a bit of a leader around the footy club.
"I'm also married and have a child as well, so it's not just footy stuff, it's life in general really.
"I've got a few guys I sort of mentor around the club and they can ask me anything they want."
Despite having played just three AFL games, Callinan's incredible journey to the AFL is no doubt an inspiration to Adelaide's younger generation.
He crossed borders on several occasions, having played in the TFL, the VFL and the SANFL and has won some of the country's most respected individual awards such as the J.J. Liston Trophy as the VFL's best and fairest and the Jack Oatey Medal as the best player in the SANFL Grand Final.
Despite winning under-18 All Australian selection in 2000 and training with several AFL clubs, up until last year he was overlooked in countless drafts. But not once, he said, did he think about giving up on his dream.
"That's one thing I've learned in life is you've just got to back yourself," he said.
"If you want it, you've got to go for it ... I've never had any doubt, it's just about getting an opportunity."
Ian Callinan is a $217,000 forward in Toyota AFL Dream Team. Register your team here
