We don't need Tippett

Brenton Sanderson and Kurt Tippett talk strategy during a game against Hawthorn earlier this year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Limited

ADELAIDE coach Brenton Sanderson says the Crows can win next year's premiership without Kurt Tippett and won't be distracted by an ongoing investigation into the Crows' salary cap.

Sanderson fronted the media after his side's first preseason training session today and said his side was capable of going two steps further than this year's preliminary final finish.

"We can, yeah," Sanderson said."It's only November though, let's be realistic. I didn't talk about September until about August last year. We'll just get through the summer first."

Sanderson said he had personally moved on quickly from Tippett's departure but noted it would take some of his players longer to deal with the issue.

"There's different emotions amongst the boys," Sanderson said.

"Some are probably going to carry it longer than others... But most of the guys I've spoken to one on one have been, 'You know what, we're fine, we've got this'."

Tippet's name mud at Crows

Sanderson said after Tippett informed him of his intention to leave West Lakes he had immediately pulled his coaching group together to start planning on how to replace him.

"We spent about half an hour on it and we did move on pretty quickly to how we can make the group better in 2013," Sanderson said.

"Straight away we're talking about (Shaun) McKernan and (Josh) Jenkins and these sort of guys who have to stand up next season. Without putting too much expectation on those boys in particular, it's important they understand there's a great opportunity for them to step into a really good side next year."

He believes his playing group understands the possibility to have a major say in next year's premiership race.

"There's a really good sense of expectation that 2013 might be something special for the group and I think we saw that today with the energy amongst the group," Sanderson said.

Basketball converts Ben Dowdell, Tim Klaosen and Jack Osborn earnt praise for their efforts in today's sessions, while Sanderson said he expects to be talking about promising youngster Brad Crouch "all summer".

Crows kick off pre-season minus Tippett

He said there wasn't a particular focus for the group this preseason and that he was happy to stay in Adelaide while other AFL clubs head overseas for altitude training.

"The players are in good spirits, the coaches were fantastic, it's just great to be back at work," said Sanderson of the first session.

"The energy and the spirit amongst the group is fantastic. We trained well today... it's just nice to be back and preparing for another footy season."

List manager David Noble and recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie have been instructed to select the best available talent with the Crows first pick (No. 20) in Thursday's draft.

Earlier Sanderson, who in his first year in charge at Adelaide took the club to within a kick of the grand final, put the acid on nine players he expects to take the next step in their development next season.

They include defenders Andy Otten and Luke Thompson, midfielders Luke Brown, Brodie Martin, Jarryd Lyons, Sam Kerridge and Aidan Riley and tall utilities Tom Lynch and Lewis Johnston.

"They should be looking to break into the side more than they did this year, which shows the depth we've got," Sanderson said.

The second-year Crows coach said he also is expecting big things from 17-year-old mini-draft selection Brad Crouch, who spent his first year at the club refining his game in the SANFL with West Adelaide.

Sanderson said the teenage ace  who would have been a top-three pick if he was in this year's national draft pool  was so advanced in his devdhelopment he could be in contention for a round one spot.

"If Brad's good enough we'll certainly pick him," Sanderson told the club's website.

"It's been so beneficial having a year to develop him. He knows our game plan already and he's got an AFL body now compared to the kids in the draft pool this year. If he's in our best 22, we'll play him and I'm sure a lot of weeks he will be in our best 22. At the same time, we have to be realistic with our expectations. He only turns 19 in January, so he's still learning."

Sanderson said after regaining the respect of the competition last season, Adelaide would be carrying expectations of "going a step better" next year.

"They're realistic expectations but at the same time you'd expect the competition to get tighter again," he said.

- with Andrew Capel
 

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