ADELAIDE’S crop of young defenders have picked up the leadership slack in the absence of injured star Ben Rutten.
Twenty-year-old backman Daniel Talia said without Rutten's leadership in defence at training, the onus had fallen on the club's up and comers to take the reins.
"Us young guys have had to take more responsibility with our voice and communicating down back," Talia said.
"We're all adjusting and it's a good learning curve without Ben back there directing us.
"We're trying to take some of that direction back there."
Approaching round one, Talia is locked in a positional battle involving several other young Crows, with the NAB Cup bound to help iron out selection issues in defence.
"With Trucker (Rutten) out until the first round of the AFL season there's blokes like Lewis Johnston, Luke Thompson, Andy Otten and myself all vying for those key defensive roles," Talia said.
"I'm out there to get one of those spots, but in saying that there's a lot of competition for that key back spot."
Talia said the NAB Cup would be a great opportunity for Adelaide's new recruits to show what they've got to offer.
"I think we've got about 10 new guys this year so we're going to see some of the new guys play.
"The quicker the team bonds the better off we'll be."
He said the playing group was getting used to Brenton Sanderson’s coaching style, which was evident during the club’s intra-club match last Wednesday.
"I think you're always going to be adjusting to a few new ideas, but Wednesday was just our first hitout so you can't really take much out of that," he said.
"I suppose we're going to see a few more new things this week being against opposition for the first time.
"With new players, new team, a new coach we've just got to go out there and play the best we can and whatever happens, happens.
"As long as we can compete and be happy with what we've done, I think Brenton will be really happy."
Harry Thring covers Adelaide news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry
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