Coach Brenton Sanderson has given the strongest indication yet that Nathan van Berlo will retain the captaincy in 2012, saying he expects the hard-working midfielder to lead the Club for "a long time" to come.

Van Berlo, 25, was appointed skipper at Adelaide following the retirement of respected dual-premiership player Simon Goodwin at the end of the 2010.

The Crows’ youngest-ever captain endured a difficult first season in charge, as the Club slumped to its worst win-loss record and parted ways with long-serving coach Neil Craig.

Like many of his teammates, van Berlo was below his best in the first half of 2011, but lifted to play inspired football in the latter part of the season, leading from the front and being recognised with second place in Adelaide’s Club Champion award.

The Crows' leadership program is being redefined by new leadership development manager Paddy Steinfort, whose model will replace that of Leading Teams, but Sanderson said he was confident van Berlo would remain skipper.

“Nathan has been one player for me, that I just can’t believe how motivated this young man is and what a great leader he is,” Sanderson told FIVEaa.

“I’m almost certain he’ll be captain of this footy club for a long time.

“It’s just [a matter of determining] the guys we put around him to support him, and allow him to be a great captain.”

Best and fairest winner Scott Thompson and veteran duo Ben Rutten and Michael Doughty are the other remaining members of Adelaide’s 2011 leadership group, which also included retired utility Scott Stevens.

Sanderson said the Club's new leadership program would extend beyond the senior leadership group.

“We’ve added a group of another eight guys, who we think are our future leaders at the footy club,” he said.

“What we’re doing is spending some extra time with them during the week, defining what leadership is, how to become a better leader and working on their deficiencies."

Adelaide is expected to unveil its leadership group prior to the first NAB Cup game, but Sanderson said it was possible more emerging leaders would be added to the group at a later stage.

“We’re trying to come up with the best mix and it’s not a popularity contest either,” he said.

“We want leaders, who can challenge each other, and we want to empower them to get the best out of the group.

“It won’t necessarily be the six or seven best players.

“It’ll be the players, who can lead and have showed some characteristics.”