Adelaide welcomed 10 new players during the offseason, but there’s also reason to be excited about another group of emerging Crows.

Four players made their AFL debuts last season in Jake Kelly, Jake Lever, Riley Knight and Rory Atkins. Midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen also played 11 games after debuting as the substitute midway through 2014.

Kelly, 20, and Lever, 19, stood up manfully in defence this year and proved Adelaide’s backline has a bright future.

Promoted rookie Kelly played 10 games after making his debut against Melbourne in Round Three, while first-year Crow Lever managed 12 games and was unlucky to miss Adelaide’s finals campaign. The pair often conceded size and strength advantages to their opponents, but impressed with their disciplined defending and sheer competitiveness.

Both will be determined reinstate their spots in the Crows’ best 22 next year.

Finals disappointment drives Lever

Knight and Atkins injected some much-needed pace and class into Adelaide’s line-up in the latter rounds of Season 2015.

In his second season at West Lakes, Knight kicked two goals in an emotional debut against West Coast in Round 15. The 20-year-old half-forward showed he relishes the big stage with promising performances against Port Adelaide in Showdown XXXIX and an important two-goal and 15-possession game against the Western Bulldogs in the Elimination Final.

Already a popular figure at the Club, Knight’s best football is yet to come.

Left-footer Atkins showed glimpses of his potential in his first eight AFL games. Like Knight, Atkins overcame an interrupted pre-season to force his way into Adelaide’s senior team. He ran riot with 24 disposals at 87 per cent efficiency in Round 19 against Richmond and kicked two brilliant goals from 18 touches against Brisbane a fortnight later.

Heading into his fourth season at the Club, the 21-year-old wingman will be eying an even bigger 2016.

A strong NAB Challenge campaign helped Ellis-Yolmen burst onto the scene through the opening rounds of last season. The 22-year-old played the first five games straight averaging 20 possessions and three marks, and also kicked two memorable goals in slippery conditions against the Demons in Round Three.

The 189cm onballer finished the season strongly in the SANFL and will again be in the mix come Round One.

Untried Crows Reilly O’Brien, Harrison Wigg, Keenan Ramsey, Mitch McGovern and Harry Dear also made significant strides and could push for senior selection next season.

O’Brien, 20, carried the bulk of Adelaide’s ruck duties in the SANFL last season and came close to an AFL debut.

He was twice promoted off the rookie list to be named as a senior emergency such was his consistent form at State League level. The 201cm, 98kg youngster played 17 games, ranked fifth in the SANFL for hit-outs and finished runner-up in Adelaide’s State League Best and Fairest count.

Like O’Brien, long-kicking defender Wigg was twice named as an emergency and was on the cusp of an AFL debut.

The teenager wasn’t overawed in his first year of SANFL League football. He led the team for rebound 50ms and was damaging when allowed further up the ground as well, booting two goals from 24 possessions against his former club North Adelaide.

Ramsey, 19, impressed early in the year, beginning with his Crows debut in his hometown of Port Lincoln to kick off this year’s NAB Challenge.

He led Adelaide’s SANFL goalkicking for the majority of the season and showed his versatility with a switch to defence in the closing rounds. Don Pyke wants his players to be flexible on the field, and could look to the 192cm rookie as a ‘swingman’ for the future.

Injuries robbed McGovern and Dear of much of their first year at West Lakes, but both showed they have promising futures ahead.

The athletic McGovern managed 15 goals from 11 SANFL games, including four goals against Norwood at The Parade in Round 16. The 21-year-old has all the tools to become an AFL regular given his speed, strong marking and great goal sense, but just needs some continuity to kickstart his career.

Key-position player Dear underwent a shoulder reconstruction which wrecked his 2015 season. The 19-year-old still managed seven goals from just four games and showed a good turn of speed for a forward of his size. With an injury-free run, the 197cm, 98kg Dear will be eager to make his mark next year.

Midfielder Mitch Grigg (22 years old), who was limited to just six games this year, and ruckman Luke Lowden (24), who kicked three goals in his only AFL debut with Hawthorn, are others hoping for more luck on the injury front next season.

Yet to debut:
Dean Gore
Harry Dear
Mitch McGovern
Harrison Wigg
Wayne Milera
Tom Doedee
Reilly O’Brien*
Keenan Ramsey*
Paul Hunter*
Jono Beech*
Hugh Greenwood*
Alex Keath*

Played fewer than 20 AFL games
Luke Lowden 1
Rory Atkins 8
Jake Kelly 10
Riley Knight 11
Jake Lever 12
Cam Ellis-Yolmen 12
Mitch Grigg 15