Rory Sloane said his current captain Simon Goodwin would be a perfect fit to join the coaching staff next year and learn the ropes before eventually taking on the lead role in the future.
Sloane said Goodwin's knowledge of football in general, the Crows' system and set up would mean the 33-year-old is a perfect candidate to one day lead Adelaide Football Club.
"I'd think he'd fit perfectly. He's got the knowledge," Sloane said.
"Especially the knowledge of what sort of pre-season we get up to, being an ex-player how you feel playing this style of footy. I think he'd have great information to feed back to coaches about players and how they feel during the season."
Goodwin has already indicated he would like to move into coaching when he hangs up the boots and it is widely tipped he will remain with the Crows after he retires.
Sloane said Goodwin's coaching career has essentially already began with the veteran mentoring some of Adelaide's younger players and emerging leaders for the future.
"He's sort of been to me, personally, a bit of a mentor/coach anyway," he said.
"Certainly the last couple of weeks he's been injured and I've been able to spend a bit more time with him and I've sort of seen him play that sort of role."
"I reckon blokes like Bernie (Vince) that spent a lot of time with him over the summer, and Goody has probably shown him the ropes which Bernie can pass onto the younger blokes. I know I've learnt a lot from Bernie and Goody this year, especially pre-season and I think we can pass that on."
Sloane labelled Goodwin as a total professional as the 275-gamer battles to return to the field this season before he retires at the end of the year.
Goodwin has missed the last two weeks with an unusual Achilles' injury after he was a late withdrawal from the Showdown a fortnight ago and there are fears the 33 year-old has already played his last game.
The 20-year-old admitted he is hopeful Goodwin will return this season and play again, saying a proper send-off would be a fitting farewell for the three-time best and fairest winner.
"I think everyone is pretty hopeful. It would be good to see him make a return for a couple of games at the end of the year," he said.
"The supporters would love it and I'm sure the whole footy world would enjoy seeing him finish on a high."
Sloane said the professionalism Goodwin has demonstrated since being sidelined is probably the best example of the kind of legacy the dual premiership player will leave behind at the end of the year.
"He's so professional," he said.
"The way he prepares and even the way he's looking after himself at the moment, trying to get his ankle right just to play again. I think that's what I'll take away the most: the way he prepares, the way he works and how hard he works at training."