Coach Brenton Sanderson accepts it will take another strong start to the season convince some naysayers Adelaide’s performance in 2012 wasn’t a flash in the pan.

On Tuesday, 14 of the 17 voting AFL captains tipped the Crows to return to the final eight this season but external commentary – particularly across the border – has Sanderson’s charges sliding down the ladder to make room for hyped teams, Carlton and Richmond.

Sanderson said he understood his team would be “hunted” more in 2013.

“It seems like some people are waiting for us to fall this year,” Sanderson said.

“They’re probably looking for another solid start from us before they’re convinced we’ve turned the corner. We respect that and will do our very best to start the season well.

“We’ll be hunted a bit more. We’re not expecting to go under the guard of a lot of clubs early in the season. By midway through last season we’d only had a couple of losses. This year, I think sides will be more aware of us and more schooled up on how we play.

“We need to make sure we keep improving with the game. We can’t just play the way we did in 2012. We have to make adjustments to what works.”

The Crows will kick off the 2013 season against Essendon at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.

The Club will wait until later in the week to make a call on forward Ian Callinan (knee).

“Callinan had a knock on his knee a couple of weeks back and hasn’t done much training. We’ll wait and see … and, maybe, make a late call on him,” Sanderson said.

“You have to take a fit squad into any match, but in particular round one. These games are red-hot. We’ve played four practice matches, but the game goes to another level this week.”

Young midfielder Brad Crouch is a chance to make his AFL debut against the Bombers. Crouch joined Adelaide as a 17-year-old via the Greater Western Sydney mini-draft in October, 2011.

The Crows, who have been stripped of their first and second-round draft picks as a result of the investigation into former player Kurt Tippett’s contract, might have to look outside the conventional draft system again this year. Although, Sanderson said he hadn’t given up hope of re-entering the first round of the 2013 AFL National Draft.

“David Noble is doing a fantastic job at preparing a lot of different scenarios for us,” he said.

“Whether we adopt free agency, trades or promoting rookies – we’re going to have some different options available to us, to get back into that first round of the draft. I’d like to get back into the first round if at all possible. And there are a few nice free agents out there.”