ADELAIDE expects to promote as many as three existing rookies to its senior list in the off-season, as the club negotiates the second of two compromised drafts created by the concessions afforded to Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney.
Like Gold Coast last year, GWS will have nine of the first 15 picks in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft, including the first three selections.
Early picks are considered especially important in this year's draft, which is lacking in depth compared to that of the 2010 talent pool, while next year's draft is already being touted as the best since the 2001 'super' draft.
It's unlikely clubs will make wholesale changes to their lists this year as a result of the limited under-age talent on offer, but each team must make a minimum of three changes in accordance with AFL rules.
Last year, the Crows turned over eight players, farewelling retiring champions Andrew McLeod, Simon Goodwin, Tyson Edwards, Brett Burton and Trent Hentschel, and losing Nathan Bock and Jon Griffin to Gold Coast and Fremantle respectively.
Instead of filling all or most of these spots in the draft, Adelaide traded for Carlton ruckman Sam Jacobs and Richmond midfielder Richard Tambling, and elevated rookies, Ricky Henderson, Matt Jaensch and Luke Thompson to the senior list, leaving the club with only two selections at the draft.
The Crows are expected to make fewer changes this year, with utility Scott Stevens (retired) the only confirmed departure at this stage.
Second-year rookie Matt Wright and mature-age recruit Ian Callinan have impressed this season, and football operations manager Phil Harper said the pair was a good chance to follow in the footsteps of the past rookie success stories Ben Rutten, Michael Doughty and Bock.
"Two or three of our rookies are playing really well, so at this stage, it looks like we might be able to upgrade two or three rookies this year, which is what we desperately wanted," Harper told afl.com.au.
"We got through last year all right and were able to upgrade three.
"It will be good [if we can upgrade another two or three] because we were really relying on that during the two compromised drafts."
Callinan has been one of the feel-good stories of the season.
The four-time Central District premiership player and JJ Liston Trophy medallist overcame a pre-season bicep injury to make his long-awaited debut against Geelong in round 14, and showed promise in Adelaide's win over the Sydney Swans the next week before a hamstring strain put his fairytale back on hold.
He hopes to return to the team for Showdown 31 next weekend.
However, not everyone has been caught up in the romance surrounding Callinan's arrival in the AFL, with critics in Victoria questioning the Crows' decision to bring a 28-year-old into a developing team.
Coach Neil Craig dismissed the criticism, saying the goalkicking midfielder still had plenty to offer the club.
"From what I've seen so far, if he can keep fit and healthy I think Ian can play at the level for another two of three years," Craig said.
"I think he could be an outstanding player in our club. He's a footy nut. He just loves it and he's got a great hunger to play the game, probably because he's had that many knockbacks in the past.
"I could argue that we need probably a few more Ian Callinan or Mick Doughty-type players around our footy club, so that your first, second and third-year players can see what a hungry player does and how he trains."
Adelaide will also need to make a decision on utility Chris Schmidt, who is eligible for selection for the rest of the season as the club's mid-year rookie upgrade.
Schmidt has played 20 games since joining the Crows as a rookie at the end of 2008, but AFL rules prevent him from spending a fourth year on the club's rookie list.
