Adelaide Coaching Director Murray Davis has given a key insight into the burning questions surrounding the Crows’ start to the 2025 season.

Sitting down with two-time Premiership Captain Mark Bickley on this week’s episode of The Crows Show, Davis went in depth on what has led to the Crows’ 9-5 start and how they could improve.

As the squad prepares to return from its mid-season bye against Richmond at the MCG this Sunday, Davis revealed the message the coaching group had relayed to the playing group. 

“The main message we’ve got for the players coming off the bye is just to stay hungry and find ways to continually improve,” Davis said.

“We have to acknowledge that we’ve made some good growth in a lot of areas, so I think the most important thing is we don’t get bored with the fundamentals that brought about our improvement.

“The game is so marginal, so in the one or two per cent things don’t get bored with that, keep chasing it and making sure we hold each other accountable on that.”

A key feature of the Crows’ game in 2025 has been their unique forward set-up, that features three talls in Riley Thilthorpe, Darcy Fogarty and Taylor Walker.

Davis explained how the trio of talls had benefited the team and helped its early-season success.

“I think our forward structure has been a success, we want to be a team that has different avenues to goal,” Davis said.

“The talls play a key role in that, and I think the most successful teams have an ability to be able to score through their tall players as well as our smalls, so we are always working on getting that mix right.

“I come from Brisbane where we had three talls so I know it works, it worked in a Grand Final so I think guys that can create a contest are super important as it allows our smalls to go to work.” 

Another weapon Adelaide has had at its disposal in the front half has been the dynamic Izak Rankine.

Rankine’s position has been a delicate balancing act for the coaching staff, as he splits his time between the midfield and attack.

“I think that’s part of being a really good player, you have the ability to call on different things to be able to do during a game,” Davis said.

“People would have seen Izak spend some time in and around centre bounce, and then he’ll drift forward which can be a bit of an opposition coach’s nightmare.

“It can be really hard to nullify those players when they can do different things, like Izak is doing at the moment for us.”

The development of first round draft pick Sid Draper has been another project the coaching staff has carefully managed across the first half of the season.

The 18-year-old made his AFL debut in the Club’s Round One match against St Kilda, and has featured in nine games, while also spending some time honing his craft at SANFL level. 

“It’s a great position for us to be in as a footy Club, because depth is really important and it’s great to have guys like Sid putting pressure on the boys above every week,” Davis said.

“The most important thing for us is making sure we get him there the right way, we have to remember it’s his first year of AFL footy so we need to manage that well.”

Sitting in fourth spot on the AFL ladder, a crucial nine-week period awaits the Crows, as they battle a number of other contenders in a tight race towards September.       

Davis said the key for the group heading into this stretch was to believe in its ability. 

“I think belief is a massive part of footy in general and one of the things we’ve talked a lot about is A, believing, and also acting on it,” Davis said.

“Alex Neal-Bullen has come in and made a huge impact in that space, because he’s been there, lived it and acted on it.

“So it’s super important we believe in our ability and act on it.”

The Crows Show airs on Channel 7 Adelaide on Sunday at 11am.