The Crows assembled an impressive arsenal of goalkickers last year, including cult figure Jason Porplyzia and imposing tall Kurt Tippett, who both finished top 12 in the league for goalkicking.
Brett Burton and Trent Hentschel made successful returns from serious injury and left footer Chris Knights was a revelation across half-forward.
NAB Rising Star nominee Patrick Dangerfield also proved a handy addition inside 50m, but his promotion to the midfield means the Crows will have to shuffle the line up.
Assistant coach Ben Hart said the club would look to rotate a number of midfielders through the small forward position.
“The next step for Patty Dangerfield is to go in the midfield and spend a bit of time in there because we all love what he can do in there,” Hart said.
"That will mean guys like Tyson and Scott Thompson could spend more time in attack and even Andy McLeod, who has played as a genuine small forward in the past.
“If we left guys like Thompson, McLeod and Edwards as forwards I think they might kick a few goals as well.”
The trio will have plenty of time to practise their goalkicking during the NAB Cup.
The Crows have already indicated they’ll select the best players available in the pre-season competition, including veterans McLeod, Edwards, Simon Goodwin and Brett Burton.
The popular quartet was offered one-year contract extensions at the end of 2009, but Hart said none of the players were approaching this year as their last.
“They haven’t backed off at all and, in terms of footy training, they’ve done just about everything,” Hart said.
“They’re all up and running and like anyone they want to play. Whether you play them in slightly different positions or for limited time, who knows, but they’ll play and they’ll want to impress.”
Hart, who looks after the defence, is working with youngsters Phil Davis, Will Young and James Sellar as he continues his search for a replacement for injured back pocket Andy Otten.
Hart indicated swingman Scott Stevens was the most likely to take Otten’s place, but said he’d been impressed by Sellar’s transition from the ruck to defence.
“Sellsy got a lot of belief from playing last year and, whilst he didn’t set the world on fire in terms of possessions, he felt more comfortable at the level,” Hart said.
“He’s spent a fair bit of time in defence this pre-season and if he continues to improve he could find himself back there.”
Otten, 20, is using his time on the sidelines with a knee injury to kick-start his coaching career.
The NAB Rising Star runner-up wandered the sidelines at training last week offering feedback to coach Neil Craig.
Hart said it was like having “another coach” on the team.
“We want to keep Andy involved as much as we can during his rehab, but it works twofold because he’s quite a smart kid and he understands what we’re trying to do with our game plan.
"He’s been a great asset.”
