AFTER playing second and third fiddle at Carlton in the ruck rankings, Adelaide recruit Sam Jacobs has made it clear that he wants to be the number one ruckman at the Crows.

Jacobs spent two seasons with the Blues, playing just 17 matches as he battled Matthew Kreuzer, Robbie Warnock and Shaun Hampson for a place in the senior side.

The South-Australian born ruckman eventually requested a trade at the end of last season, and the Blues reluctantly complied with Jacobs heading to the Crows in exchange for NAB AFL Draft picks 34 and 67.

Jacobs' final game for the Blues was his best, with the 203cm giant recording a career-best 44 hit-outs and 15 disposals in a dominant display in the elimination final loss to the Sydney Swans.

On Sunday against Collingwood he eclipsed that career-high with 45 hit-outs. He also had nine disposals, three tackles, and dominated Magpie Cameron Wood who had just 24 hit-outs.

Jacobs says he has improved immensely with Adelaide, and has relished the challenge of competing for his spot alongside ruckmen Ivan Maric and Brad Moran.

"I'm learning stacks," Jacobs told afl.com.au.

"We've got a great coaching staff over here. They’ve got a lot of experience and Matthew Clarke (ruck coach) has been great for me as well with new ideas and stuff to work on.

"I think I'm progressing nicely and I love challenging for the title of lead ruckman at the club with Ivan and Brad Moran as well.

"We're very competitive between us and that's good for the club."

After a setback with a hamstring injury during the pre-season, Jacobs was uncertain whether he would get a game for the Crows but Maric's dip in form early in the season gave him the chance he needed to make his debut in round five.

Since then he hasn't looked back and continues to work hard on his game so he can maintain the key position in the Crows' ruck division.

He knows that with the new interchange rule he needs to become more versatile and not just "a lumbering ruckman", and with this in mind he has been trying to improve his aerobic fitness and his work around the ground to make him a more complete player.

"My centre-bounce work [also needs improvement]," Jacobs said.

"Just when I get tired, I need to make sure I don't get bogged down and I stay up and about because I just don't want to be a lumbering ruckman that just stands there.

"I feel like I'm starting to get my fitness base and I've just got to keep working harder to make sure I keep getting stronger in the legs so I don't get another hamstring injury."