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ADELAIDE has begun ambitious recruiting mission - Target 20.
Armed with half-a-million dollars in salary cap space, Jonathon Griffin and possibly Chris Knights as trade bait, the aggressive Crows have drawn up a hit-list of 20 players they are interested in luring to West Lakes for next year.
These include homegrown stars Matthew Pavlich of Fremantle and Ryan Griffen of the Western Bulldogs, while fellow Croweaters Shannon Hurn (West Coast), Byron Schammer (Fremantle), Will Minson (Western Bulldogs), Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne) and Sam Jacobs (Carlton) also are understood to be on their recruiting radar.
Entering a new era without retired champions Simon Goodwin, Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards, stars Nathan Bock (Gold Coast) and Brett Burton and unlucky forward Trent Hentschel, Adelaide already has started speaking to the managers of the 20 players it has "some interest in".
If midfielder Knights joins key defender Bock and unsettled ruckman Griffin, who is seeking a trade to a WA club, in leaving the West Lakes club then the Crows could sign as many as three players from rival teams.
"We'll push fairly hard," Crows football operations manager Phil Harper said of Adelaide's new, aggressive approach to trading.
"There's about 20 players who we've got half an interest in, so we'll try to be as active as we possibly can. Anyone who is uncontracted and we're keen on we'll be in contact with their managers to find out if there is some interest in them coming to our club.
"The key part there is that they've got to be either unsettled or wanting to leave their club - or have a reason to leave (such as money).
"We freed up a little bit (of money) when Nathan Bock decided to go to the Gold Coast, so I can assure our supporters that we will do our utmost to get the best squad inside the TPP (Total Player Payments) allowance that we can have."
Harper said recruiting manager Matt Rendell has already contacted the managers of several out-of-contract players the Crows are keen on "to see if they are interested in coming to us."
"There's 20 we need to assess, so we'll look at them and then target some from that list," Harper told radio FIVEaa. "The bottom line is we're looking at players who we think could be available and will improve our list."
Adelaide - which is keen to bolster its midfield and secure another ready-made ruckman to replace Griffin and support Ivan Maric - is not restricting its search to South Australians or uncontracted players.
It could secure the contracted Schammer from Fremantle for Griffin while big men Minson and Jacobs could be available for trade after falling out of the ruck pecking order at their clubs.
Dockers captain Pavlich has left the door ajar for a shock return home by refusing to commit to Fremantle, although it is likely he will play out his career in the west. Gold Coast also is in the hunt for his services.
Griffen remains undecided about his future, with several Victorian clubs, including cashed-up Essendon, throwing big dollars at him. His management has indicated he wants to remain in Victoria.
Harper said negotiations with Knights were "ongoing" with the talented left-footer yet to indicate where he wants to play his football.
Armed with half-a-million dollars in salary cap space, Jonathon Griffin and possibly Chris Knights as trade bait, the aggressive Crows have drawn up a hit-list of 20 players they are interested in luring to West Lakes for next year.
These include homegrown stars Matthew Pavlich of Fremantle and Ryan Griffen of the Western Bulldogs, while fellow Croweaters Shannon Hurn (West Coast), Byron Schammer (Fremantle), Will Minson (Western Bulldogs), Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne) and Sam Jacobs (Carlton) also are understood to be on their recruiting radar.
Entering a new era without retired champions Simon Goodwin, Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards, stars Nathan Bock (Gold Coast) and Brett Burton and unlucky forward Trent Hentschel, Adelaide already has started speaking to the managers of the 20 players it has "some interest in".
If midfielder Knights joins key defender Bock and unsettled ruckman Griffin, who is seeking a trade to a WA club, in leaving the West Lakes club then the Crows could sign as many as three players from rival teams.
"We'll push fairly hard," Crows football operations manager Phil Harper said of Adelaide's new, aggressive approach to trading.
"There's about 20 players who we've got half an interest in, so we'll try to be as active as we possibly can. Anyone who is uncontracted and we're keen on we'll be in contact with their managers to find out if there is some interest in them coming to our club.
"The key part there is that they've got to be either unsettled or wanting to leave their club - or have a reason to leave (such as money).
"We freed up a little bit (of money) when Nathan Bock decided to go to the Gold Coast, so I can assure our supporters that we will do our utmost to get the best squad inside the TPP (Total Player Payments) allowance that we can have."
Harper said recruiting manager Matt Rendell has already contacted the managers of several out-of-contract players the Crows are keen on "to see if they are interested in coming to us."
"There's 20 we need to assess, so we'll look at them and then target some from that list," Harper told radio FIVEaa. "The bottom line is we're looking at players who we think could be available and will improve our list."
Adelaide - which is keen to bolster its midfield and secure another ready-made ruckman to replace Griffin and support Ivan Maric - is not restricting its search to South Australians or uncontracted players.
It could secure the contracted Schammer from Fremantle for Griffin while big men Minson and Jacobs could be available for trade after falling out of the ruck pecking order at their clubs.
Dockers captain Pavlich has left the door ajar for a shock return home by refusing to commit to Fremantle, although it is likely he will play out his career in the west. Gold Coast also is in the hunt for his services.
Griffen remains undecided about his future, with several Victorian clubs, including cashed-up Essendon, throwing big dollars at him. His management has indicated he wants to remain in Victoria.
Harper said negotiations with Knights were "ongoing" with the talented left-footer yet to indicate where he wants to play his football.
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