Adelaide Report Card

This year: 7 wins, 15 losses, 79.43 percentage

This year's grade: E

Positives from this year: Scott Thompson had another season to remember on a personal note, collecting career-bests of 673 disposals overall - at an average of 30.6 per game - and a staggering 51 in the Round 22 thrashing of Gold Coast. Ruckman Sam Jacobs was also one of the Crows' best following his arrival from Carlton and Taylor Walker's decision to sign a new contract rather than head elsewhere having been linked to a move to GWS was also good news. And there were some good signs from some of the club's youngsters, with Jack Gunston, Daniel Talia and Jared Petrenko all showing that they have big futures in the game.

Negatives from this year: Where do we start? Losing Jason Porplyzia after just one game was a big blow and followed quickly by the forced retirement of Scott Stevens. Taylor Walker and Bernie Vince also failed to set the world on fire, with neither able to dominate and Walker in particular struggling to command a regular senior berth. Losses to Fremantle and then Port Adelaide immediately after the shock Round 1 win over Hawthorn set them on their heels and they never recovered, only winning six more games. One was against St Kilda but that was at home when the Saints were headed for a 1-1-5 record and their only wins away from AAMI Stadium came against Brisbane and Gold Coast, who finished 15th and 17th respectively on the ladder. So poorly were they travelling that after the 103-point hiding from St Kilda in Round 18 coach Neil Craig fell on his sword before the knife could be plunged into his back. They also didn't get anywhere near as much as they would have liked out of Kurt Tippett.

Likely departures: Phil Davis walked out on the club midway through the season after injury forced a premature end to his year, the defender headed to GWS, while Brad Moran has followed Stevens into retirement. They may lose Gunston with the Victorian reportedly keen to return home while Ivan Maric has also been linked with a move elsewhere after Jacobs' arrival restricted his opportunities.

Next year:

Type of Players needed: Having lost Nathan Bock and Davis in successive seasons to the expansion clubs, as well as Stevens early in the year, the Crows will be keen to bolster their defensive stocks during trade week and then at the draft. And if Maric does seek opportunities elsewhere then they will have to bring in at least one more ruckman. As is always the case for most clubs they will also look to boost their midfield stocks, seeking to inject some more pace and outside run.

Likely improvement: Walker showed in the closing weeks of the season what he is capable of when caretaker coach Mark Bickley gave him a chance, booting 18 goals in the final six games including back-to-back hauls of four. Much will be expected of him and Tippett to lead the way up forward while Patrick Dangerfield will be keen to have a bigger season and the return of Porplyzia will be a huge bonus. If they can hang on to Gunston then the likes of him, Talia and Petrenko will need to continue their development to help take the Crows forward.

Finals next year? Difficult to see the Crows jumping from seven wins and 14th place to the 11 or 12 they would need to return to the finals for the first time since 2009. Their new coach will have the safety of at least one season to build before he'll be expected to get them back into contention for the top eight.