Nathan Bock

Today's headlines

• Jack in the box
  Fri, Jul 30, 10
• Craig sticks to structure
  Fri, Jul 30, 10
• Goodwin to miss another week
  Wed, Jul 28, 10

Today's videos

• Neil Craig Pre-match Round 18
  Fri, Jul 30, 10
• Crows in the SANFL (Round 18)
  Mon, Jul 26, 10
• Rd17 Port v Adel (Q1)
  Mon, Jul 26, 10

WE MAY be 14 rounds into the season, but forward Nathan Bock says
Adelaide’s best form is yet to come.

Last week the Crows sneaked back into the eight with their most impressive win of the season, improving their ledger to eight wins and six losses.

Bock is confident the victory will mark the end of Adelaide’s inconsistency.

“We’ve seen bits and pieces of the best, but I don’t think we’ve seen our best footy,” Bock told afc.com.au.

“Last weekend showed that we can put a full game together and if we can keep doing that, over time, we’ll start seeing the best of our team.”

In stark contrast to Adelaide’s dominant start to the 2006 season the Crows are only now starting to look like premiership contenders.

Neil Craig is not one to use injury as an excuse, but the Adelaide coach concedes the club’s modest form has been influenced by a lack of personnel.

With the injury list at a season-low Bock is hopeful returning stars will help Adelaide regain its consistency of the past two seasons.

“We got Goody [Simon Goodwin] and Bird [Brett Burton] back last weekend and the boys played an outstanding game,” Bock said.

“We’ve taken plenty of confidence out of the win over Hawthorn and hopefully we can carry that on with some consistency.”

Bock credits an uninterrupted pre-season and greater self-belief with his own consistency this season.

The former centre half-back’s move forward has paid off with 23 goals in 14 games.

Bock played his best game as a Crow with a commanding four-goal performance against the Kangaroos in round 12.

The 24-year-old’s improved work ethic and marking ability have been significant this season.

“Against the Kangaroos, it was probably my first four-quarter effort. To be able to kick a few goals and feel like a real presence up there was good. I’d still like to take a few more marks,” Bock said.

“I feel like I’m getting myself into some pretty good spots, but I’m still putting down a couple of marks that I should be taking. My marking has improved a lot though and if I can keep that improvement going it will really help my game.”

Friday night’s clash with St Kilda is the first in a month of important games for the Crows.

The Saints must win to maintain any hope of reaching September while an Adelaide loss could see the Crows tumble out of the eight.

“The Saints are probably one of those sides that you could possibly say have underachieved a little bit this year with a lot of injuries. But we’re ready for a big game and expecting them to have a real crack.”

“This week is a pretty big game for us if we want to stay in the mix of the top eight. I think our next three- or four-week block will be very important to us making the finals.”

The Crows are a game outside the top four but Bock believes the team has what it takes to secure that elusive Grand Final birth.

“Going on our performances against Hawthorn and Geelong, two of the best sides in the competition, we’re definitely in with a good chance.”