Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks is confident the club has the right group and coach to lead the Crows to contention in 2025, with Sunday's loss to Hawthorn putting a final line through their finals chances for this season.
The young South Australian side entered 2024 was an expected top eight chance after showing continued growth under Nicks, who earned a new deal until the end of 2026 in March to take his tenure through to a seventh term.
Adelaide amassed an 11-win season last year, with the Crows narrowly missing out on a finals return due to a contentious conclusion to their campaign, and can only better that record with a flawless finish to their current season.
The Crows face Geelong, the Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide and Sydney to end the year, meaning while they can't make finals they can leave an impact on the run home for those in contention - including their cross-town rivals.
Wanting to be in the September frame this time next year, Nicks is confident the club has "the right group" going forward, with amendments needing to be made both on and off the field over the off-season.
"Those sort of reviews are ongoing, how we improve and what we need to improve in. There's a bit of that around at the moment. There's a number of areas that we're looking at closely," Nicks said after Sunday's 11-goal defeat to the Hawks.
"What takes us to that next level? That's both on and off the footy field. We'll continue to do that.
"Right now we unfortunately can't make the finals, so we'll continue to look at how we can improve.
"I believe we've got the right group. We'll need a little more experience under our belt, we'll get that. We'll keep working through this season and finish strong.
"Tonight was a blip on that, that's not how we go about it."
Despite the early season contract call, questions and concerns surrounding Nicks' role have resurfaced, given the lacklustre result of this year's campaign.
The 49-year-old has denied the need for questions into his future at West Lakes, stating he is " the right man for the job".
"I'll just keep working with the group, asking them what I can do to be better as well," he added.
"I'm confident that I'm the right man for the job."
Nicks has won 36 of his 102 games in charge of the Crows, having taken on the side ahead of the 2020 season as Don Pyke's successor.
With seven wins, one draw and 11 losses to their record in 2024, the Crows sit in 15th on the ladder and can't possibly fall any lower before the end of the season.
A 15th-place finish would see Nicks' side finish as low as they did in 2021, while one spot higher would level their result from the year after.
