ADELAIDE has beefed up its investment in player welfare in an effort to ward off interstate raids on its players.
The Crows landed former Carlton free agent Eddie Betts last October and have promised to aggressively pursue other out-of-contract players this year.
Blues midfielder Bryce Gibbs is one free agent in Adelaide's sights, sparking comment from Carlton coach Mick Malthouse that free agency is a two-way street.
Superstar Crow Patrick Dangerfield would become one of the League's most wanted if he delays contract talks to become a free agent in 2015.
Crows captain Nathan van Berlo said the key to keeping players was to help them assimilate into local life and that player welfare was crucial in achieving that.
“The demands of AFL footballers these days is forever increasing so it's important for young guys to have someone they can always turn to," van Berlo said.
"We've reshuffled a couple of roles within our welfare department and got a new welfare manager on board in Emma Bahr and she's been great for us, the boys have noticed a huge difference already.
"We've just got to make sure as a footy club that we're doing everything we can to provide a culture and a want for players to stay here.
"I've got every faith in our list management team, headed by David Noble, that not only are they trying to source out the best recruits but also making sure we tie up those guys that are really important to us."
Despite the Crows losing Kurt Tippett (Sydney Swans), Jack Gunston (Hawthorn), Phil Davis (GWS) and Nathan Bock (Gold Coast) in recent years, Dangerfield said he had no issue with his side publicly declaring interest in opposition players.
"We know who the free agents are and it would be in every club's best interests to explore those and see if they fit what your club needs," he said.
Port Adelaide skipper Travis Boak said his club's family atmosphere would prove difficult for future free agents to leave and defect to rival sides.
Boak was the subject of approaches from several clubs prior to re-signing with the Power in 2012.
Geelong even flew leaders Joel Selwood and Jimmy Bartel as well as coach Chris Scott to Adelaide for a mid-season sales pitch to the Victorian native.
Boak, a 2013 All Australian, re-signed with the Power for two years and recently extended his contract to remain at Alberton until at least the end of the 2018 season.
He told AFL.com.au the same family ties that kept him at Port would do the same for his teammates.
"For me, it was the atmosphere that we have at the club, it's a family-like atmosphere at our club and that's what I wanted to be a part of," Boak said.
“I had family back home in Geelong but the family here was just exactly the same in that strong feeling of being a part of it.
"The feeling's mutual throughout the whole group, they love the family-type feeling around the group and I think that's going to be the key to keeping all our players.
"Everyone feels the same."
