PATRICK Dangerfield is one of the keys to Adelaide's surprising form so far this season according to AFL.com.au's Matthew Richardson, who has put the Crows under the microscope in his weekly video review, The Whiteboard.

Richardson has analysed Adelaide's past two wins against the Sydney Swans and Geelong and says Carlton must make it a goal to win both the contested ball and the clearances at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The Crows lead the League in both statistical categories and Richardson has been impressed with Dangerfield's ability to help out in these critical parts of the game.

"It's been a great move to get Paddy Dangerfield up into the middle of the ground," Richardson says.

"He was a great half-forward for two or three years, but now he's gone into the middle and it's added so much more to this Adelaide footy club.

"He's an 80m player … he gets the ball, runs, bounces and carries it 30m and then he's got the ability to kick it long into the forward line. He's got huge speed, as we all know he won the Grand Final sprint last year, and he uses it to maximum effect.

"When he gets the ball he always bursts and gets that 10 or 15m in before he releases the football.

"He's also been great in the clearances helping Scott Thompson out."

Richardson says there is a strong Geelong flavour to Brenton Sanderson's game plan at Adelaide with its quick ball movement, use of the central corridor and kicking long to forwards in one-on-one situations also trademarks of the Cats' recent run of flags.