Transforming Adelaide’s back six into one of the competition’s premier defensive units has not been rocket science, according to key cog Mark Keane.
Since Round Six, the Crows have been the best defensive team in the AFL, averaging just 62.0 points against per game.
This came after early defensive struggles, as Adelaide gave up 92.0 points per game across the first five weeks of the season.
When asked what had changed within the Crows’ back six, Keane pointed at cohesion and continuity as the two major indicators behind the improvement.
“To be completely honest, not a whole lot has changed structurally from the start of the season to now, we’ve kept our focus and how we play very similar,” Keane said.
“The big thing that I think has brought about the improvement has been our cohesion, the more we play with each other, the more things come together, and we’ve seen that over the past few weeks.
“As a group we complement each other really well, our defensive efforts have been great, our contest work as a team has been in great shape, and we’ve had lots of guys hit their top form really.”
The 25-year-old Irishman finds himself in the midst of a career-best season, where he has gone from strength-to-strength as a key pillar in the Crows’ defence.
He explained how the decisions he made throughout the off-season had resulted in getting the most out of his game in 2025.
“I think I’m tracking well, I’ve got a good five or six defenders besides me, which I think has been the most important part,” Keane said.
“Being around the game for another year has really helped, I didn’t go home for Christmas and just trained throughout the whole summer, and I think I’m really seeing the benefits of that now.
“I also feel a lot more mature in the way I’m playing the game, I’m much more composed out there on the field, and confident in my ability to compete against the best each and every week.
A standout aspect of Keane’s game has been his ability to intercept, and have an offensive impact from his key defensive post.
His 36 intercept marks this season ranks him the competition’s equal-third most prolific interceptor this season, a statistic that proves his hard work is well and truly paying off.
“It (intercept marking) is something I always focus on each and every week, it’s such an important part of my game and the game,” Keane said.
“Even going back to my Collingwood days and learning off the likes of Darcy Moore, a big thing they harped on was intercepting, because the only way for us to score is winning the ball back, so it is a crucial part of the game.
“Being able to intercept is not something that just happens, it takes a lot of hard work, you have to be able to read the cues of the kickers, have confidence to impact and be clean with your hands.
“It’s an area I’ll continue to grow and a weapon I will continue to bring to the team each week.”
Keane and his teammates will be out to make it three straight wins when they face reigning premier Brisbane at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
He said he was embracing challenge of facing the competition’s best.
“It is great to test yourself against the best teams in the competition, and there is none better than Brisbane at the moment, being the reigning premier,” Keane said.
“It will be a huge test for us, but one we are very excited for, being able to play in big matches like this is why you play the game.”
The Crows take on the Lions at Adelaide Oval on Friday at 7.10pm.
The match will also mark the Club’s SA Freeze event, with an aim of raising money for Fight MND.
Tickets to the game available here.
