ADELAIDE'S emerging superstar Patrick Dangerfield has succeeded Chris Judd as the most explosive midfielder in the AFL, Leigh Matthews says.

Dangerfield, 22, has averaged 27 disposals in 2012 (31 in his past three outings) and been one of the catalysts for the Crows' stunning start to the season.

Judd, from one less game, has also averaged 27 touches but been less damaging  - he's had 48 fewer kicks - in a Blues side that has struggled to live up to their stated premiership aspirations.

Matthews told AFL.com.au's Access All Areas he doubted Judd - who will be 29 in September - was still the explosive player he once was.

"Chris Judd has been, (but) maybe right now I'm not so sure," he said.

"But I reckon the new Chris Judd in the competition is a guy (called) Patrick Dangerfield.

"He hasn’t had the longevity, he's only started to do it the last six weeks, but he's gone into the midfield, he's big, he's strong and he's quick and he's powerful. That's a great combination.

"And what he can do is (what) not many can, (which) is what Judd could do, grab the ball (and) accelerate away from the congestion because he's got the leg-speed.

"He's certainly the next-generation Chris Judd. And he's tough."

Matthews said the collision between Dangerfield and Judd's teammate Marc Murphy at Etihad Stadium last week, which resulted in Murphy being sidelined with a serious shoulder injury, showed the genuine toughness of Dangerfield.

Matthews also used an interesting analogy to explain how, little more than a year after Melbourne hammered the Adelaide by 96 points at the MCG, the two clubs had gone in opposite directions: the Crows to the top of the AFL ladder and the Demons to the bottom.

He said that in building parlance, Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson had decided to renovate, building on the strengths instilled by former coach Neil Craig (now Melbourne's director of sports performance), while the Demons have "knocked down the old house, are building foundations and they’re hoping that in three years' time the new house might be good".