Adelaide spearhead Taylor Walker believes his side will need to bring in more midfield talent this off-season if they are to improve in 2023.
Speaking onย Triple M Breakfast Adelaide, the 32-year-old said despite being confident in the Crows' core group of midfielders, which includes Rory Laird, Ben Keays, Sam Berry, Jordan Dawson and Jake Soligo, more assistance is required to propel the club forward.
"We still need some help," Walker said.
"We've got to get some talent in to help those guys.
"They're not going to be able to do it with just that core group."
The former skipper said he's pleased with the development and performances of the young players at the Crows, especially in recent weeks.
"I was really pleased in the second half from Berry and Soligo on the weekend," Walker said.
"I thought they just showed some true character that when the chips were down they both tried picking up the footy side and showed us the way.
"I've really loved what 'Fogs' (Darcy Fogarty) has done the second half of the year. He's really matured into a consistent AFL player.ย [We've] seen glimpses from 'Thilthy' (Riley Thilthorpe).
"Jordon Butts is maturing, I've loved what Nick Murray's done the last month."
Despite the promise of the young Crows' list, Walker condemned the side's slow starts to games in 2022, which included conceding nine opening term goals to the Swans last weekend.
"It's been the story of our year," Walker said.
"We've been able to string a half together, string three-quarters and, yes, we're still learning our game, we're a very young team and inexperienced.
"But you just can't rock up to AFL footy and not put your head down and go to work from the first bounce."
Adelaide currently sit in 16th on the ladder after 18 games, and as things stand will obtain the third overall pick for the National Draft.
Should the Crows be active players in the off-season market, the pick would become a valuable asset should they target rival clubs' midfielders, or decide to head to the draft to target the best young midfielders in the country.
The Crows are set to host the Blues on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval, as they look to start off the final month of the season on a high.
