Adelaide wants to prove last season wasn’t a ‘once-off’ and re-establish its reputation as a regular September contender.

The Crows returned to finals action last season for the first time in three years. After overcoming the Western Bulldogs in a cliffhanger Elimination Final, Adelaide was bundled out of the premiership race by eventual premiers Hawthorn.

Adelaide has featured in 13 finals series out of the Club’s 25 AFL seasons, but last competed in back-to-back finals campaigns in 2009. That year marked Adelaide’s fifth successive finals appearance.

Speaking back in his hometown of Clare as part of Adelaide’s Australia Post AFL Community Camp visit, Crows youngster Riley Knight said sustained finals success remained the team’s motivating factor.

“It’s definitely a driving point,” the 20-year-old said.

“We don’t just play footy not to play finals. It’s always the reward at the end of a long season and it’s why you do such a long pre-season.

“After almost an embarrassing loss in a sense to Hawthorn last year, we’re really out to prove a point this year and not just make it a once-off. We want to keep striving forward.

“Whether we end up in the same position as last year or we go further, it’s still on our minds to strive for every success.”

The Crows added four new players during the AFL Trade Period in Paul Seedsman, Curtly Hampton, Troy Menzel and Dean Gore. Three of the quartet have already played at AFL level, while Gore came third in Geelong’s VFL best and fairest despite an injury-interrupted season.

Adelaide also introduced four debutants last year in Knight, Rory Atkins, Jake Kelly and Jake Lever who all demonstrated they were capable of performing at the level.

Knight said the depth of Adelaide's roster should hold the Club in good stead heading into the new season.

“This year we’ve got a great list, we’ve got a lot of experience on the list,” he said.

“Whilst we’re still quite young, I think anyone that comes into the side this year has already got experience under their belt and they know what’s expected to play AFL footy.”

The Crows kick off the year with a NAB Challenge hit-out against Grand Finalists West Coast at Unley Oval this Sunday, before tackling fellow finalists Fremantle in Western Australia and the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium.

Preliminary Finalists North Melbourne then beckon in Round One, with another five finalists from last season to come in the following seven rounds.

“Either way you’re going to have to (play) the good teams to get to the big dance at the end,” Knight said.

“For us, it’s a great opportunity to really show the competition how we want to play early on.

“If we can win a few of those games it’ll be great.”