ADELAIDE forward Josh Jenkins has boldly declared the Crows can end their 19-year premiership drought.
"There's no reason why we can't win everything," Jenkins told AFL.com.au, from the club's Australia Post AFL Community Camp in Port Augusta on Monday.
"We were among the best-performed teams last year, so if we improve a little bit we will be right amongst it.
"There's not a team we don't feel we can go with, providing we play somewhere near our best."
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The Crows won 16 home-and-away games last season, but lost to Sydney in the second week of the finals.
They missed out on Carlton star Bryce Gibbs in the NAB AFL Trade Period, while midfielder Jarryd Lyons (Gold Coast) and utility Ricky Henderson (Hawthorn) changed clubs.
All six of the Crows' losses last year were against top-eight sides – Geelong (twice), reigning premiers Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne, Hawthorn and West Coast – while they beat Sydney and 2017 premiership favourites Greater Western Sydney.
"We have a clear understanding of what we need to improve on and if we can do that, we can give ourselves an opportunity to beat all those sides," Jenkins said.
"It's a bit of a copycat league.
"A lot of teams tried to follow Hawthorn when they had so much success with their ball movement and the way they defended space more so than players.
"The Western Bulldogs had a very flexible line-up and were able to win the flag.
"The Sydney final was one where we weren't really in the game at all, but we did beat them early in the season.
"We're confident we can put our best foot forward in those big games."
Jenkins and skipper Taylor Walker celebrate a goal last year. Picture: AFL Photos
Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Riley Knight, Curtly Hampton and Harrison Wigg are among those in the mix for midfield positions.
Wigg and Hampton stood out for the Crows in their 19-point loss to Richmond in the JLT Community Series last Friday.
Knight didn't play, but is expected to be available for Sunday's game with Geelong at Richmond Oval.
Forward Charlie Cameron and half-back flanker Rory Laird will also spend more time through the middle of the ground so the Crows aren't as reliant on their All Australian vice-captain, Rory Sloane.
"We need to have some guys run through the midfield a little bit more and not put so much of the onus on Sloane, the Crouch brothers (Matt and Brad) and Scott Thompson," Jenkins said.
"We're looking for another half-dozen guys to step up through there."
Brad Crouch (hamstring) is in doubt for the round one clash with Greater Western Sydney, while Sloane (fractured eye socket) and Thompson (shoulder) are expected to be available, but will likely miss all of the pre-season competition.
