OPPOSITION defenders be warned: Adelaide captain Taylor Walker is flying this pre-season, with star teammate Rory Sloane describing him as a "monster" on the training track.

Walker ran a personal best time in the club's 2km time trial in late November and has lost several kilograms in preparation for reduced interchange rotations.

He flourished in his first season as skipper this year, booting 59 goals and finishing second in the League for marks inside 50.

Explosive strength and aggression make Walker one of the most damaging power forwards in the business.

Speaking straight after a session in blistering conditions, a breathless Sloane tipped his captain to seriously influence the competition in 2016. 

"He's looking sharp – he's a monster at the moment," Sloane said.

"He's running well, that's the key for him to just keep his fitness and he's so strong, you see what he's like when he's out on the ground – he's just a barometer for us. 

"His leadership's definitely gone to another level this year." 

Walker isn't the only player at West Lakes hitting the Christmas break in impressive touch. 

He was just one of many who ran personal best times at the start of the pre-season and with a gaping post-Dangerfield hole to fill, the club's midfielders need to be in career-best form next year. 

Injury-prone talent Brad Crouch is shaping for a round one return and his presence would go a long way to covering the loss of Dangerfield.

But Sloane said Crouch was just a small part of the brigade aiming to ensure the Crows aren't too hurt by the reigning best and fairest winner's departure.

"I do miss my little mate (Dangerfield), we were quite close in here but guys leave every year," he said.

"It's just all part of it … as soon as you get back into training you forget and you're busy getting yourself back into routine.

"We've got some young guys who are going to step into that role and we're going to need to all step up as midfielders, because he (Dangerfield) was a really important player for us.

"Scott Thompson, myself, Brad Crouch, Matt Crouch – all the way down to guys like Dean Gore coming in – we've got a lot of guys who can fill in those shoes."