Adelaide took both the competition’s third oldest list and third most experienced list into the 2019 season, looking for a bounce-back after a disappointing 12th-placed finish the year prior.

The Crows began the year with an average list age of 24.8 years, but a number of off-season departures will see that number plummet when Round One rolls around next year.

List manager Justin Reid told Trade Radio on Thursday evening the Crows needed to transition to a much younger list profile in 2020.

“As a collective going into this year, we knew we had an aging list,” Reid said.

“From a strategy point of view, we're looking to rejuvenate the list and expose the list to an extent as well.”

“That means going into the draft last year and we'll look at that again this year.”

Richard Douglas (32) and Andy Otten (30) will not be at West Lakes next year, Cam Ellis-Yolmen (27 in January) and Sam Jacobs (31) will exercise their free agency rights, while Josh Jenkins (30) will explore a move to another club during the upcoming trade period.

Hugh Greenwood (28 in March) and Alex Keath (28 in January) also hope to continue their careers elsewhere in 2020, with the Crows unable to offer long-term deals to the pair of former Category B rookies.

“With those two boys, they said they were looking for some long-term security,” Reid said.

“There was an arrangement we couldn't get to with both parties, so obviously Alex has had talks with the Western Bulldogs, and Hugh with Gold Coast.

“So, that will play itself out over the next fortnight. 

“(Both players are) really valued soldiers of the Adelaide Footy Club. It's just at that stage in their careers. I guess both parties are heading in different directions.”

At Adelaide’s Club Champion dinner on Thursday night, captain Rory Sloane offered a sincere thank you to the players who would embark on a new chapter next year. 

“Through this trade period, it’s a brutal industry, you do lose people and this year we’re going to lose some really good people,” Sloane said.

It’s a sad time for us as a playing group, but you can never, ever begrudge people for leaving for better opportunity, maybe more long-term deals and that kind of thing.

“That’s something that’s really hard.

“Selfishly, you want people to stay, but you have to be happy for your friends too.

“So, to the players, their wives and their families, a sincere thank you from myself and the rest of the playing group for doing what you’ve done.”

Captain Rory Sloane addresses the audience at Adelaide's Club Champion on Thursday night