The leadership of Adelaide's Rory Sloane is being lauded as he edges closer to a decision on whether to continue as captain of the Crows.
Sloane is on the comeback trail after a knee reconstruction in April last year. He played just four AFL games in 2022.
The All Australian and dual Adelaide club champion has set his sights on returning for round one of the premiership season against GWS on March 19 - two days after his 33rd birthday.
The Crows are expected to announce the captaincy for the looming season this month.
Emerging midfielder Sam Berry, a 20-year-old who led the competition for tackles last season, says the 233-gamer's influence cannot be understated.
Berry says his fellow Victorian Sloane was instrumental in helping him settle in Adelaide and in guiding the Crows' crop of young players.
"Sloaney just couldn't have been better in that sense," Berry told reporters on Wednesday.
"He is just such a personable guy, he's so knowledgeable but he's just so happy to help.
"He came from Victoria also, a lot of similarities there.
"And on-field he's always giving advice, he is always just trying to make everyone around him better."
Sloane has been steadily building his training loads in the pre-season.
"When he has been on the track he has been unreal with his voice and everything, he is just such a great leader," Berry said.
"I'm looking forward to playing alongside him again."
The Crows have not played finals since 2017. As they look to improve on that record, Berry - entering his third season on Adelaide's list - was bullish about his personal condition and that of his teammates.
"I am a lot further ahead than I was in the last couple of years," he said.
"With the pre-season, I have just noticed my body adjusting a lot more to the standard of an AFL pre-season.
"It's pretty noticeable just how much stronger everyone is.
"We have come a long way as well with game plan ... skills, we're in a really good position compared to where we were."
