HAVING made a blistering start to pre-season training, Adelaide teenager Patrick Dangerfield has set his sights on a greater midfield role next year.

Though Dangerfield played 21 of a possible 24 games in 2009, his transition from schoolboy to full-time AFL footballer had been far from seamless.

Selected at No.10 in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft, he chose to remain at home in Victoria to complete his year 12 studies but was then forced to play catch-up on the track from day one.

He arrived at West Lakes three weeks later than the rest of his teammates and failed to impress coach Neil Craig with the level of fitness he'd maintained during his time away from the club.

A hamstring strain and minor car accident, which left him with some whiplash, topped off the 19-year-old's nightmarish start to the summer and saw him left out of the Crows' first two pre-season games.

"At the time I probably didn't realise how much of an impact missing training would have and it gave me a greater appreciation once the season started, just being able to be out there and train," Dangerfield said.

"If you're in rehabilitation it makes it so much harder to get up to speed with the way that we train and the way that we play. It makes it a lot harder come January or February to make your way into the pre-season side."

Dangerfield has enjoyed a change of fortune this time around, completing every session and recording personal best skin folds.

He said his near-perfect start to the summer would be a massive advantage come round one.

"It's been a lot smoother this time around, that's for sure," he said.

"It's been good just to be able to get through the first month or so of pre-season training without any injuries. I've been able to participate in everything and that helps you with your fitness and also game knowledge, which is what I was lacking at this time last year."

Dangerfield kicked 21 goals as a pinch-hitting forward this year, including two in Adelaide's semi-final loss to Collingwood.

He said the five-point defeat had been a driving force for the players.

"It sort of brought home after the game we lost to Collingwood that you've done all this hard work throughout the season, played 20-odd games and all of a sudden it's gone," he said.

"You don't know how to take it at the time and it's certainly shattering. The experience against Essendon was brilliant, but the emotion after losing to Collingwood was just as strong because that was it.

"It gives you a greater appreciation for what we're all striving for."

Earlier this year, Adelaide re-signed a number of its promising youngsters, including forward Kurt Tippett and second-year pair Myke Cook and Tony Armstrong.

Some interpreted Dangerfield's decision to stay in Victoria in 2008 as reluctance to move to South Australia, but he said that couldn't be further from the truth.

Contracted to the end of 2010, Dangerfield is yet to sign a new deal but has spent many weekends looking to buy a house in Adelaide.

"The contract's not something I need to rush into at the moment. I just want to focus on getting a good pre-season under my belt, playing some good footy and the rest will take care of itself," he said.

"I'm loving every minute of it over here. Mum's on the internet pretty much every night looking on (real estate site) Domain and she gives me a call if she finds anything. Hopefully the right house will come along soon."