Nathan van Berlo says he’ll do “what’s best for the Club” when it comes to the captaincy in 2015.

Van Berlo, who has been captain since 2011, continued in the role this year despite being unable to play a game because of a serious Achilles injury. Vice-captains Rory Sloane and Patrick Dangerfield shared the match-day captaincy duties in van Berlo’s absence. Scott Thompson, Sam Jacobs, Taylor Walker and Richard Douglas rounded out the senior leadership group.

New coach Phil Walsh, who has only been with the Club several weeks, will make a decision on the captaincy for next season as the summer progresses. He has already ruled out the idea of having co-captains. Respected former West Coast skipper Darren Glass has been brought in to mentor the Club’s leaders next year.

Van Berlo said he hadn’t spoken to Walsh about the leadership going forward, adding that a decision was unlikely to be made soon.

“A decision like that probably won’t be made until further down the track. Phil’s got to suss out the group in terms of where the leadership is at … and where individuals are at leadership-wise. There’s absolutely no need to rush into decisions like that,” van Berlo said on Monday.

“I’ve always said and will continue to say that I’m going to do what’s best for the footy club. We’re very lucky to have a number of great leaders across our group. Scott Thompson has been vice-captain for a number of years. ‘Danger’ and ‘Sloaney’ did a great job last year and we’ve got Daniel Talia and Taylor Walker coming through. Beyond those guys, there are great leaders as well.

“If it’s in the best interest of the footy club that I’m the man to do the job, then we’ll talk about that down the track. For now, it’s about getting stuck into training, trying to impress the new coach and getting 2015 underway.”

Walsh conducted his first training session with the full playing group as Adelaide’s five-year-plus players returned for the start of pre-season on Monday morning. See the photo gallery.

Van Berlo compared the scenario to the ‘first day of school’, saying everyone was keen to impress the new coach.

“It’s almost like everyone is off scratch and has to start again,” he said

“We’re under no illusions that we’ve got a lot of improving to do. In the last couple of years, we’ve really underperformed. I’m very biased, but I look at our group and see we have a great list. We’ve got a really good core of young players coming through. I reckon a lot of those guys are at a stage where they can take their games to the next level and help us improve as a squad. It’ll be up to the senior players to push them along and fast-track their development and for those guys to take it onboard themselves.

“The beauty of pre-season is that you always see a number of guys who have put in a lot of work in the offseason to get themselves in great shape. They’re itching for that opportunity.”

Van Berlo acknowledged that on-field direction and success was likely to play a role in keeping out-of-contract stars Dangerfield, Sloane, Walker and Douglas at the Club long-term.

Van Berlo backed the key quartet to re-sign with the Crows.

“Most of the (players on the) list would look at where the group is at and where it’s going moving forward because everyone wants to be a part of success,” he said.

“We’re no different to any other club. We might have a few bigger names out of contract next year, but I’ll be brutally honest and back in where the Club is at and where we’re going. In 12 months’ time, I’ll be very surprised if those guys weren’t hanging around, knowing the sort of characters they are and the investment they’ve made in this playing group.

“At times, we have a bit of banter with them and at the right time we’ll have a serious conversation if it’s needed but let’s be honest we’re in November of 2014. They’re not out of contract for another 12 months. You guys (in the media) will do a good enough job of beating it up and making it sound bigger and worse than it actually is, but we’re confident the boys we want around will certainly be staying.”