ADELAIDE has abandoned its appeal against the AFL's proposed compensation for Gold Coast-bound defender Nathan Bock, but the club denies it has also given up hope of retaining out-of-contract forward Chris Knights.

The Crows vowed to challenge the League's decision to classify Bock as a 'band three' player under the subjective new compensation formula, describing the recompense of an end of first-round draft pick for the All Australian as "grossly inadequate".

The compensation is determined by the value of the new contract offered to the player and his future earning and playing capacity.

Adelaide had expected the former best and fairest winner to be judged at worst as a 'band two' player, a classification which would have netted the club a selection immediately following its first pick in any of the next four draft years.

Last week, the Brisbane Lions were offered the same band-three compensation after losing 24-year-old midfielder Michael Rischitelli to the Suns.

The Crows hierarchy appealed with the AFL to reconsider its ruling on Bock, but football manager Phil Harper said the outcome had remained unchanged.

"We wrote a letter to the AFL and they wrote a letter back to us ... we can take it to a grievance tribunal, but we're not prepared to do that," Harper told afl.com.au.

"We've said our piece. We don't think the compensation is fair but we'll play by the umpire's rules and a late first-round draft pick was their decision."

Bock is one of seven changes to the Crows' playing list already this season.

Veterans Simon Goodwin, Andrew McLeod, Brett Burton, Tyson Edwards, Trent Hentschel have all retired, while small forward Jarrhan Jacky has been delisted.

Promising rookie Ricky Henderson has snapped up one of the vacant spots on offer, after being promoted to the senior list.

The club is expected to make several more changes during the exchange period which begins on October 4.

Knights, 24, is yet to re-sign with Adelaide and has attracted interest from a number of clubs in his native Victoria.

The left-footer had a breakout season in 2009, kicking 43 goals but was limited to just five games this year through injury.

It's understood the club and player are struggling to reach a financial agreement but Harper, who was in Melbourne on Monday, said he was hopeful of striking a deal with the half-forward.

"I spoke to Chris' manager on Monday. Hopefully in the next week or so we might be able to resolve something," Harper said.

"We're still trying there. Chris has always been a required player at the club. It's just a matter of coming to terms."

The Crows will also attempt to forge a deal for Jon Griffin, who has requested a trade home to Western Australia for personal reasons.

Harper said he was confident the club would get a deal done for the ruckman.

"There's some interest from the Western Australian clubs. It (a trade) can just depend on movements from other clubs and it might even involve a three-way trade," he said.

"We'll do our best to get something happen for Griff so he can get home, because that's what he wants - to be with his family."