ADELAIDE will tinker with its setup at centre bounces under the new starting position rules to work out how to stop momentum shifts.
The Crows conceded five straight goals in last weekend's JLT Community Series game against Port Adelaide, with Power ruckman Paddy Ryder giving his midfielders first use of the ball out of the centre square.
The Power's forwards capitalised on the extra space generated by teams needing to have six players inside each 50m arc at the centre bounce, including a player in each goalsquare.
"It poses a challenge for a lot of teams," Crows defender Rory Laird said.
"There will be huge momentum swings throughout the games.
"If you've got six players on six, there's a lot of space, there should be a lot more scoring.
"Whoever's on top in the midfield should be able to get the ball going forward.
"Teams will work out how to do it best."
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Laird said one option the Crows could consider when the tide was against them was starting their wingers on the defensive side of the square.
"That's what we've got to talk about," he said.
"Once we play a few more games and see what happens and start to tinker with how we set-up and what we do, like bring people back at certain points.
"I think a lot of teams will be doing the same thing, trying to work out how to stop it."
The introduction of starting zones after each centre bounce also saw players struggle to reset in time, especially when they were coming off the interchange bench.
"The umpires were pretty lenient with it on the weekend because players were getting used to what was going on and where to run and where to stand," Laird said.
"It's not natural for players to run and get into a certain zone.
"As players get used to it, it won't be an issue."
What is more clearcut is who will be taking the majority of the kick-outs for the Crows – superboot Brodie Smith demanding the role, according to Laird.
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"Brodie's sort of said, 'Don't go near the ball'," Laird said.
"If he gets a bit of a run-up, he can probably kick it near the centre circle.
"If you can do that out of a kick out and get it out of your defensive 50, then I don't see why you don't do that the majority of the time, but if you've players who are clearly on, you can chain the ball on and we've got that option too.
"Just be a matter of what he wants to do, but I dare say he'll want to let a few go down the middle."
The Crows play Greater Western Sydney in Canberra on Friday night.
