Adelaide will enter the new season hoping to make their mark on the premiership race, with a handful of new recruits and the maturity of their emerging ranks set to buoy their finals chances in 2025.
The Crows were one of the more aggressive sides over the off-season, bringing in experienced talent to help with their tilt for a top eight spot.
Their new arrivals land at West Lakes at the same time the club's younger contingent prepares to reach new heights, while another top 10 draft star will also look to make his mark.
Ahead of a new campaign, we look at how the Crows could suit up for the 2025 season by listing their best side of 23 players.
Our Best 23 for 2025 series will include players unavailable for the start of the season, only excluding players who are expected to miss most/all of the season through injury/suspension.
Durability and cohesion will be key for the Crows' rearguard in 2025, with the club's last line having battled constant injury issues over the past several seasons.
Their setbacks have helped in some ways, opening the door for fresh faces to grow their own game and now leave Matthew Nicks with plenty of competition for senior spots.
Nick Murray and Mark Keane will likely resume their roles as the first and second-string key defenders, with Josh Worrell likely getting the nod ahead of Jordon Butts for the third role in Adelaide's back seven.
Top 2023 draftee Dan Curtin - who is more than capable of playing in midfield or attack - could be called on to hold a role in defence as an intercepting option, with fellow emerging youngster Max Michalanney to be the lockdown option for smaller opposition forwards.
Dashing defender Luke Nankervis was a clear positive throughout 2024, partnering nicely with Mitch Hinge off half-back.
New recruit Isaac Cumming should be able to offer a similar service but can also feature further up the field, with the aforementioned Butts, club great Rory Laird, young stopper Hugh Bond, the returning Wayne Milera and the uncapped Oscar Ryan also live options for defence.
Matthew Nicks' engine room should be a quicker and more nimble ensemble than what has led the West Lakes crew in recent seasons.
Skipper Jordan Dawson should be a full-time presence in midfield and will find complementary teammates Jake Soligo and Izak Rankine alongside him at most centre bounces.
Both Rankine and Soligo will challenge Dawson as the Crows' first-string ball-winner, as could new recruit James Peatling, who has arrived from GWS after widespread interest in his services.
Fellow Giant-turned-Crow Isaac Cumming might hold a wing role after making his return to South Australia, with Lachie Sholl's late-season 2024 form seeing him slot onto the other flank.
Veteran Rory Laird could be in line for more defensive duties as the Crows place priorities on pace in midfield, but the club's 2024 clearances leader should still be a big part of the midfield mix.
Pick 4 selection Sid Draper is the new kid on the block, with the South Adelaide junior tipped to contend for a starting role from Round 1 after a stellar six-game spell in the SANFL last year.
The lively midfielder will add pace and poise on the ball and could get close to a 20-game maiden season, while duo Billy Dowling and Zac Taylor should also get more looks after promising debut seasons last year.
As for the ruck department, Reilly O'Brien should again be the focal point but will have greater help from Riley Thilthorpe throughout the year. Back-up Kieran Strachan has been dealt a delayed started to the coming season and will likely remain on the fringes.
The Crows have been home to a promising and potent forward line for some time, but 2025 might see a stronger transition toward the reliance on the club's next generation of attackers.
Darcy Fogarty will again spearhead Matthew Nicks' side and do so under the mentorship of Taylor Walker, with former Pick 2 selection Riley Thilthorpe now in line to take on a bigger role as a key position threat.
At ground level, Adelaide will have new recruit Alex Neal-Bullen as their new defensive-minded threat in the forward 50 following his move from Melbourne, where he found premiership success as a conduit player in the forward half.
Young gun Josh Rachele will look to reach new heights as the Crows' main goalsneak, with 2024 Malcolm Blight Medal winner Ben Keays to offer plenty of energy in attack also.
Izak Rankine is expected to feature more prominently in midfield but should still rotate through the forward third, while the Crows will have depth options to consider in Luke Pedlar, Lachie Murphy, Billy Dowling and Brayden Cook.
FB: Dan Curtin, Mark Keane, Max Michalanney
HB: Mitch Hinge, Nick Murray, Luke Nankervis
C: Isaac Cumming, Jordan Dawson, Lachlan Sholl
HF: Ben Keays, Taylor Walker, Alex Neal-Bullen
FF: Riley Thilthorpe, Darcy Fogarty, Josh Rachele
FO: Reilly O'Brien, Izak Rankine, Jake Soligo
I/C: Rory Laird, Josh Worrell, James Peatling, Luke Pedlar
SUB: Sid Draper
Others to consider: Jordon Butts, Matt Crouch, Chayce Jones, Lachlan Murphy, Luke Pedlar Brayden Cook, Wayne Milera, Sam Berry, Zac Taylor, Billy Dowling, Harry Schoenberg, Brodie Smith