Marco Bello oversees one of the most important portfolios at West Lakes, tasked with leading the development of Adelaide’s first-to-third year players.

A dramatic change in the Crows’ list profile over the past two years has led to a sharp rise in young talent at the Club, only enhancing the importance of the Head of Development role which Bello assumed in December last year.

With 56 per cent of Adelaide’s playing group aged 22 or under, Bello told AFC Media he has been impressed by their work ethic and commitment, both on and off the field.

“We’ve got a great young group,” Bello said.

“The on-field is what’s really stood out for mine. The group has got a strong appetite to want to work.”

After seven years at Hawthorn, Bello said his initial focus at his new Club was building strong connections with the playing group.

With the 2021 season fast approaching, that focus has now shifted to ensuring the players are working more effectively as he looks to fast-track their development.

“For me it was about building those connections early on and making sure the players understand how I teach, and me understanding them and how they like to learn,” Bello said.

“It’s now creating those habits of working hard and then working smart so they can work consistently.

“That’ll be my aim over the first-to-three years, over this next period before we get into the real match sims coming up in the next six weeks.

“The odd player here and there will be about the technical aspects of it. The fundamentals, the skills, while there will be others who want to learn game style and the game plan a little bit more so they can go out there with clarity on any given day.”

Bello joins a new-look coaching panel at Adelaide, with Scott Burns, Nathan Van Berlo and James Rahilly also being appointed as assistant coaches over the off-season.

He said Senior Coach Matthew Nicks embraced a collaborative environment, where each voice is heard, and there was a strong connection among the coaches already.

“I’ve been really impressed with the program so far and the way the coaching group has integrated their ideas and their philosophies, along with Nicksy,” Bello said.

“Nicksy has been open to ideas and making sure that everyone gets a say.

“Not only have we come from outside, but we’ve come from successful clubs with Rahilly at Geelong, VB at West Coast and Burnsy and myself at Hawthorn.

“We can bring some IP, which perhaps hasn’t been through the doors for a while.”