Andrew McLeod says Adelaide has improved from last year, when it finished on top of the AFL ladder after the home-and-away season, but he stops short of comparing this 2006 team with the Crows' premiership-winning sides of 1997-98.

"As a side we've probably got better and more efficient with the way we use the footy," McLeod said before a recovery session at AAMI Stadium on Monday.

"Our style of play and our game plan we're still fine-tuning, but we've kept improving. Last year we had a style and a game plan that was pretty unfamiliar … but, under Craigy, this is our second year of implementing that.

"It becomes not easier but you probably do it a lot better and, because everyone knows what's going on, you play a lot smarter and a lot better. It certainly helps when you know what you're doing out there."

Could he see some similarities with the premiership teams of '97-98?

"Not really," he said. "It's hard to compare a side that reached the top of the mountain and won premierships with a side that hasn't won premierships. It's probably a bit too premature to compare those sides.

"But we have a great group of guys. Where we go, who knows? But certainly that's our aim to win a premiership. Whether or not we can do it has yet to be seen, but we believe we're heading that way and we've got the right cattle. It's just a matter of whether we can perform when it matters."

McLeod, 30 in August, will play his 250th AFL match on Friday night - against Essendon at AAMI Stadium.

So how many more years does he have left?

"I don't know," he said. "I suppose while you're performing and enjoying it and things are going okay, you feel like you can play for a long time, but that doesn't mean to say I won't walk around the corner later and get hit by a bus or something like that and end my career.

"That's out of my hands - how long I'll play for. It's just a matter of if I can keep performing and if your body holds up well and if the club wants you."

On negotiations for a new contract, McLeod said: "Obviously I've sat down with Triggy (Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg) and the club and talked about things. At the moment we're still waiting on the TPP (Total Player Payments) and how that unfolds before we really sit down and decide anything.

"But I think both the club and myself are pretty comfortable with where things are at the moment. That'll all sort itself out. We're just waiting to get confirmation from the AFL and we'll see what happens then.

"You guys (the media) talked about one year and two years. That never really came from the club or myself. Two years - that's great. Whatever it is, I'm just pretty happy to play footy, no matter what."

McLeod said his previously troublesome knee had been 'great the last three or four years', and he added: "I haven't had any problems, touch wood. It's certainly something I don't have to deal with any more, worrying about it too much. Every now and then it gets a bit sore, but it doesn't cause me any concerns.

"I'm feeling pretty good at the moment. It's pretty easy to feel good when your team's going all right, too. I'm pretty happy where I'm at and how I'm going. Hopefully I can keep it going."

McLeod credits his switch to half-back for the round-four match against Fremantle with helping to reignite his form.

"Yeah, I suppose … I had a word to Craigy that week and we decided to settle me back in the back line and try to provide a bit more run for the team," he said. "Since then I probably have played some all-right footy.

"That (half-back) is where I've been most comfortable. I played most of my junior footy there and a lot of my footy with the Crows I've played there, so it's very comfortable for me.

"It's also a great place to attack from. We needed a bit more run and a bit more attack from our defensive area, and Craigy thought that would be a great place for me to play."

Asked about his brilliant teaming with fellow in-form half-back Graham Johncock, McLeod laughed and said: "I give him the ball a lot and he doesn't give it back. Nah, it's great. We've got a very good defence. Bass (Nathan Bassett) had a career-high 29 disposals and Graham had about the same (against Carlton).

"We've got a very attacking back line. It's something we were very conscious of at the weekend - to step up because Benny Hart was out and he's got some pretty big shoes to fill.

"I suppose because there are two dark blokes playing back there, we probably stand out a fair bit in the side. But it's good to play with Graham. He's a great player. I love playing alongside him. He's very exciting."