2011 snapshot
Ladder position: 14th; 7W, 15L
Leading goalkicker: Taylor Walker (32)
Leading possession winner: Scott Thompson (673)
Played every game: Scott Thompson, Nathan van Berlo, Graham Johncock, Patrick Dangerfield
Debutants: Matt Wright (19 games), Brodie Smith (14 games), Luke Thompson (11 games), Daniel Talia (nine games), Aidan Riley (five games), Ian Callinan (three games)

Stats leaders
Toyota AFL Dream Team: Scott Thompson (2393)
Kicks: Scott Thompson (343)
Handballs: Scott Thompson (330)
Marks: Nathan van Berlo (126)
Hitouts: Sam Jacobs (611)
Clearances: Scott Thompson (136)
Contested possessions: Scott Thompson (271)
Uncontested possessions: Scott Thompson (408)

NAB AFL Rising Star nominees
Nil

List manager
Adelaide has already identified a need to bolster its midfield with another quick, line-breaking player in a similar mould to wingman David Mackay. The unexpected departures of Phil Davis (GWS) and Scott Stevens (retired) have also made the Crows vulnerable in defence, and they may look to bring in another key-position defender to support the development of Daniel Talia, Luke Thompson and Shaun McKernan. Players with x-factor and flair would also complement the current team.

Games that shaped a season
Rd 1: Adelaide 16.9 (105) d Hawthorn 12.13 (85), at AAMI Stadium
The Crows started slowly in the game celebrating the 20-year anniversary of their inaugural match against the Hawks in 1991, but piled on 12 goals to the visitors' five in the second half to secure a memorable win and give the Adelaide faithful cause for optimism in 2011. The win was marred by a season-ending shoulder injury to Jason Porplyzia in the opening minutes of the game.

Rd 15: Adelaide 8.9 (57) d Sydney Swans 6.14 (50), at AAMI Stadium
Adelaide only managed two wins in the next 12 rounds, slumping to six straight losses in the middle of the season. The Crows snapped their losing streak in round 15, holding off the inaccurate Swans to record a gutsy seven-point win. The game signalled the rise of utility Jared Petrenko, who was best afield.

Rd 18: St Kilda 19.13 (127) d Adelaide 3.6 (24), at Etihad Stadium
The game against the Saints went down in history for all the wrong reasons. The Crows posted their lowest-ever score and suffered their heaviest defeat (103 points) in seven years in a non-competitive display at Etihad Stadium. The result proved the end of besieged coach Neil Craig.

Rd 19: Adelaide 16.15 (111) d Port Adelaide 11.13 (79), at AAMI Stadium
After an emotion-charged week following Craig's resignation, the Crows responded with a determined effort against cross-town rivals Port Adelaide in Mark Bickley's first game as caretaker coach. Led by inspired skipper Nathan van Berlo, Adelaide accounted for the hapless Power by 32 points, dedicating the win to the former coach.

Rd 21: Geelong 14.12 (96) d Adelaide 12.13 (85), at AAMI Stadium
It was Adelaide's first loss, but best performance under Bickley. The Crows put Geelong under enormous pressure to lead by three goals at the final change, but the Cats' superior class and experience won out, and they held on for a narrow victory.

What went right
Ex-Carlton recruit Sam Jacobs deserves a nomination for recruit of the year after assuming the mantle as No.1 ruckman at Adelaide, while midfielder Scott Thompson completed his rise to elite-midfielder status with a career-best season.

The Crows unearthed some genuine talent in Talia, Luke Thompson, Matt Wright, Brodie Smith, Aidan Riley and mature-age recruit Ian Callinan, and inexperienced players Rory Sloane, Jack Gunston, Petrenko, McKernan, Tony Armstrong and Matt Jaensch also showed significant improvement.

Former NAB AFL Rising Star runner-up Andy Otten made a successful return from a serious knee injury, and the club was able to re-sign Bernie Vince and Taylor Walker, who were both feared to be leaving West Lakes.

What went wrong
Serious early-season injuries to Porplyzia (shoulder), Davis (shoulder), Sloane (jaw/thumb) and Scott Stevens (concussion) were detrimental to Adelaide's chances of filling the void created by the retirements of Simon Goodwin, Andrew McLeod, Tyson Edwards and Brett Burton, and rebounding from a disappointing 2010. But it was the lack of the Crows' trademark competitiveness that ultimately saw them slump to their worst-ever season.

The new-look team struggled for consistency, and suffered two 90-point plus defeats in the same year for the first time under coach Neil Craig (and a third under Bickley against West Coast in round 24). Craig resigned after the club lost seven of eight games in the middle of the season, and Davis' defection to Greater Western Sydney a week later compounded the misery at West Lakes.

Critical moment
Craig had been under pressure to retain his position since the club failed to live up to its own expectations of a top-four finish last season, but the situation reached tipping point against St Kilda in round 18. Craig had already survived 11 defeats to that stage, but it was the way in which the Crows lost to the Saints that set alarm bells ringing. Adelaide recorded its lowest-ever score and its heaviest loss (103 points) in seven years against the Saints. Craig resigned three days later.

Most valuable player
Scott Thompson was a constant for the Crows throughout their tumultuous season. The 28-year-old carried the club's midfield for much of the year, winning more possessions (both contested and uncontested) and clearances than any other player at the club. The question isn't whether the former Melbourne onballer will win Adelaide's best and fairest award this year, but by how much?

Coach's pet
Full-back Ben Rutten was at his reliable best, only breaking his remarkable run of 82 consecutive games when he was forced out of the team with illness in round 21. The 28-year-old was the rock in an undermanned Adelaide defence, which was hurt by the losses of Davis, Stevens (retirement) and Nathan Bock (Gold Coast), and could finish runner-up to Thompson in the Crows' club champion award.

Next big thing
Talia has been thrust into the spotlight since Davis revealed his plans to accept a lucrative offer from Greater Western Sydney. The former first-round draft pick displayed great poise in his nine games this season, and will have an opportunity to make the centre half-back position his own next year.

Needs a big pre-season
Ex-Richmond recruit Richard Tambling started the season OK, but was suspended for striking after his best game for the club against St Kilda in round six and never fully recovered. The dashing wingman/half-back flanker only made a handful of appearances for Adelaide after that and will need to work hard to convince the Crows' new coach he deserves a spot in the team.

Trading places
Out-of-contract ruckman Ivan Maric is believed to be exploring his options after falling behind Jacobs, Kurt Tippett and McKernan at selection. Adelaide is keen to retain the popular character, but faces a challenge from one or two Melbourne-based clubs and, possibly, also cross-town rivals Port Adelaide. Chris Knights is contracted, but has been mentioned as possible trade bait.

What they said
"This season has been almost surreal. We started the season so well with the win against Hawthorn, but then had that run of six losses and Neil ultimately left as a result of that, which was very disappointing. We were playing quarters of good footy here and there, but you can't do that and expect to win against any team in the competition these days. We went a way to rectifying things to an extent over the last five or six weeks of the season … but it was still a disappointing year because we didn’t make the finals."
Adelaide midfielder Patrick Dangerfield

In a nutshell
The Adelaide faithful had reason for hope after the round-one win over Hawthorn, but it turned out to be false hope as the club slumped to its worst ever season (seven wins) and ladder finish (14th). The Crows underperformed, but their late-season resurgence suggests a new coach could turn things around quickly.

Overall grade: C-

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL