ADELAIDE midfielder Sam Kerridge has toppled endurance king Nathan van Berlo for the first time in the Crows' 2km time trial on Monday.

 

Kerridge had been challenging Van Berlo for his crown since he joined Adelaide via pick No.27 in the 2011 NAB AFL draft.

 

Now the 21-year-old running machine has finally claimed bragging rights after he edged out the skipper as the Crows returned to pre-season training at the Adelaide University Loop.

 

"He's finally been knocked off – that's the first time I've seen him go down," All Australian defender Brodie Smith told the club's website.

 

"I know Kedge is pretty pumped and VB will be a bit filthy. Kedge has come back really well, and all the boys ran really well and pushed him to the line.

 

"It's good to see."

 

 

Kerridge and Van Berlo were followed across the line by David Mackay and Riley Knight.

 

Smith said a host of Crows ran personal bests in an impressive return to the training track after the Christmas break.

 

"The time trial first up was a bit daunting (and it) was a bit of a sleepless night last night, but the boys have come back really well and set some really good times," he said.

 

"I think there were a lot of PBs today."

 

New coach Phil Walsh has already warned the Crows there will be no let up now that pre-season has resumed, with a focus on high-intensity running and elite training standards.

 

"I thought it couldn't get much harder than (what we did) in December, but he's come out and said it's going to get harder," Smith said.

 

"All the hard work we do now will pay off in the season, so all the boys are raring to crack in.

 

"We're just going to embrace it and attack it as much as we can."