ADELAIDE will be active in this year's exchange period after coach Brenton Sanderson said the Crows were hoping to cover the draft picks lost in the Kurt Tippett affair.

The Crows were hit with a $300,000 fine and banned from the first two rounds of next year's national draft after being found guilty of salary cap and draft cheating. 

 

Speaking after the Crows had dismantled West Coast by 86 points at Paterson's Stadium, Sanderson said he was happy with Adelaide's younger players but would still be looking to improve its squad.

 

"We are certainly looking at the free agent market," Sanderson said.

 

"We haven't got access to the first two rounds of the draft, so we will do the best that we can to move ourselves up, whether that's by trade or [another way].

 

"It's a challenge for us once again that we are going to have to try and overcome.

 

"You have always got to look for ways to make yourself better."

 

Adelaide will also be active at the trade table to try and secure extra picks, Sanderson confirmed.  

 

"A lot of things get thrown up at trade week and ultimately not a lot of deals get done, but if we are going to move up in the draft we are going to have to expose ourselves to potentially trading players out," Sanderson said. 

 

Sanderson said his tall forwards would fight for positions in the team next season and the competition between Andy Otten, Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins, Shaun McKernan, Tom Lynch and Lewis Johnston would hopefully ensure they were all enthusiastic during the pre-season.

 

While the back six was fairly settled, there would be "red-hot" competition for the other spots, he said.

 

"Some of the kids are really going to push up," Sanderson said.