ADELAIDE captain Nathan van Berlo says contract negotiations were a mere formality after agreeing to the terms of a new two-year deal that will see him remain at the Crows until at least the end of 2013.

Van Berlo, who turns 25 next week, assumed the title as the youngest skipper in the AFL when he was appointed as successor to retired leader and club champion Simon Goodwin last December.

The midfielder is the first in a long list of out-of-contract players, which include Greater Western Sydney target Taylor Walker, former best and fairest winner Bernie Vince and NAB Rising Star runner-up Andy Otten, to re-sign to the Crows.

Van Berlo said he was committed to guiding the team out of the tough "situation" it faced after disappointing losses to Melbourne, Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions in the past month.
 
"The club has been great to me since day one and I'm now in a leadership position as captain," van Berlo said on Tuesday.

"I really look forward to what lies ahead [even though] the last couple of weeks have been very disappointing and it's been an up-and-down season for us to-date.

"We've got a very exciting young list...and I want to be around for the next couple of years to see where we can go with it."

The Crows earned a reputation for being competitive regardless of the situation in the first five years of coach Neil Craig's tenure, but have suffered several uncharacteristic and unsavoury defeats this season.

Adelaide's 96-point loss to the Demons at the MCG in round seven was its worst since Craig was officially appointed as senior coach at the end of 2004.

The scoreboard against the Lions last weekend, which reflected a 40-point deficit, wasn't as dramatic as the loss to Melbourne but after the game Craig described his team's dismal performance its "worst" for the year.

The club has struggled to stop the momentum of opposition teams this season, as highlighted by the Magpies 11-goal run in the final quarter in round nine and the Lions' 14 goal-to-five flurry after quarter time on Sunday.

The Crows fielded eight players with less than 25 games of experience against the Lions.

Van Berlo hoped the young players would learn from the fade-outs against the Lions and Magpies, but said it was up to the club's senior players to take control on the field when the opposition started to gain momentum.

"It's tough for young players when teams do get a run on against you and I guess they look to the older, more senior players that have been around for a period of time to lead the way for them," he said.

"I think that's a fair ask from them. The onus is on us, as senior and experienced players to lead the way for the younger guys and help drag them along in times that we need them.

"It's more important than ever that we stick together as players and as coaches and we get behind what we know works."

The Crows will attempt to snap a two-game losing streak against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Walker has already been ruled out of the clash with a low-grade strain of the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Vince is expected to return to the team after an impressive performance in the SANFL.

Rookie-listed forward Ian Callinan (bicep) has been cleared to join in full training and is likely to make his long-awaited return from injury for Central District on Saturday.

Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill