IN THE lead up to his 200th game against the Sydney Swans at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night, Adelaide defender Michael Doughty says he's keen for his career to continue beyond this season.

The departure of club greats Andrew McLeod, Simon Goodwin, Tyson Edwards and Brett Burton last year left Doughty with the title as the oldest player at West Lakes, and the recent retirement of veteran Scott Stevens has seen the gap between the 31-year-old Doughty and the next-oldest Crow, Graham Johncock (28), grow.

But where most players wind down in the twilight of their careers, Doughty has hit peak form.

The reliable half-back flanker and occasional midfielder has played 80 of the last 82 games for the club, only missing two matches earlier this season because of a badly corked thigh.

He's finished top-five in the club's best and fairest award in each of the past three seasons, climbing one spot on the leaderboard every year, from fifth place in 2008, to fourth in 2009 and culminating in a career-best third-place finish last season.

He's also a member of the club's leadership group, which has been entrusted with the difficult task of guiding Adelaide's younger players through one of the most trying times in the club's 20-year history.

Doughty is out of contract at the end of the season, in keeping with the Crows' policy of only offering one-year extensions to players aged 30 or over, but said he was confident he had plenty to offer the team on and off the field next season.

"I think as long as you've still got that drive and desire to play, there's no reason why you should stop," Doughty told afl.com.au.

"I don't know what direction the club wants to go in, but I'm still trying to improve myself and am still enjoying the challenge of football.

"The club needs leadership and hopefully I provide that for the younger players.

"I'll just do as well as I can this week and try and help the club get out of the situation we're in at the moment.

"We've got a good young group and if they can stick together, they'll be a good young team in the years to come."

Doughty has been issued another challenge in the past month, rekindling his role as a negating midfielder.

In round 12, the former rookie, who has previously played on opposition stars including Brownlow medallist Chris Judd, restricted West Coast's leading possession-getter Matt Priddis to a season-low 20 touches.

The next week, he was assigned the job on influential Western Bulldogs skipper Matthew Boyd and also held him to his worst return of the season (22 possessions and three marks).

The late withdrawals of defenders Matthew Jaensch and Richard Tambling from the team to play against Geelong last weekend scuppered Adelaide's plans for Doughty to shadow Norm Smith medallist Paul Chapman, but the versatile Crow said he expected to receive more tagging roles this season.

"Brent Reilly has been doing an okay job, but he's probably been more of a ball winner this season," Doughty said.

"I've tagged before and I'm more of a shut-down player, so we thought it would be best if I went back in there.

"I've done a similar in role in previous years, but it's a good challenge for me going back to it now.

"I enjoy the challenge and it's a good change-up. I like playing on the best players in the competition. They drag you to the ball, so you're always in the game."

Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill