Adelaide midfielder Jake Soligo has joined a chorus of Crows hailing Josh Rachele's response to his controversial AFL axing.
Soligo says his housemate Rachele has responded with substance and style to his omission in the final round last year.
Rachele was dropped for failing to meet club standards after goading Port Adelaide fans in the lead-up to, and during, the latest Showdown of the bitter South Australian rivals.
Soligo has joined coach Matthew Nicks and captain Jordan Dawson in praising 21-year-old Rachele's response during pre-season.
"He has handled it really well," Soligo told reporters on Wednesday.
"He has come back and looked really good - you can say that about a lot of the players in the team.
"He has just put his head down, got to work and is doing all the right things by the team, which is nice.
"His leadership has been really good, he's improved in that.
"His on-field chat has been really good ... and if he sees something he will just say it to you straight away and his feedback has been really good, so hopefully he can continue that."
Adelaide play Port in a match simulation fixture at Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills on Friday evening when the Crows will likely unveil recruits Alex Neal-Bullen (Melbourne) and former GWS duo James Peatling and Isaac Cumming.
Soligo also lauded another recruit, former Brisbane assistant coach Murray Davis, who joined the Crows as coaching director after 13 seasons with the Lions.
Soligo said Davis had made an instant tactical impact in scenario-based training, which the Crows hope will fix their poor record in close games.
Last year from 10 games decided by 15 points or less, Adelaide lost seven and won twice, with one draw.
In stark contrast, premiers Brisbane banked six wins, including two finals, from nine games decided by 15 points or less.
"He (Davis) has been working on that with us and he has been really good," Soligo said.
"If we can win those close games it can put you in good stead for the year, so we did have a big emphasis on that in pre-season, to just work on that and prepare for scenarios.
"He obviously was at Brisbane, so he has got some good knowledge from them.
"That scenario stuff, he has been really really good in that space."
