RICHARD Douglas has fired a shot at Adelaide's leaders, saying they need to take on the responsibility of helping the club's out-of-form stars.
While the 2010 club champion has enjoyed his best season since his best and fairest year, Douglas' teammates have struggled and the club risks missing the finals for the first time since 2010.
Adelaide sits two wins behind eighth-placed Port Adelaide but enjoys a good run home with just two more games against a top six opponent.
However, finals only remain an opportunity if Adelaide can find form immediately and Douglas insisted it was up to experienced Crows to lead the way.
"We've got too many guys out of form and especially our better players – that's on our leaders to change that," Douglas said.
"[They] need to find a way to get back into form and drag a few guys along as well.
"We've got a chance to play finals … we've got to win seven of the next 10, we believe it's a chance.
"If we can play our best footy we're still good enough."
The 26-year-old has averaged 23 possessions a game in 2013, two more than his club champion season and has moved to 57th overall in the Official AFL Player Ratings.
Patrick Dangerfield has clearly taken his game to another level, but others in Adelaide's midfield have failed to do the same.
Douglas denied positional moves had unsettled the engine room this year, but said the side's defensive game wasn't up to scratch.
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The Crows were cut to shreds by one of the competition's best defensive sides, the Sydney Swans, in round 11 and Douglas said it was an area that had to improve.
"Personnel wise I don't think it's changed too much, I think we've been scouted a lot more from the opposition," he said.
"Over the break we watched a bit of footy and there's things that we can do now to match it with the best.
"If you look at games on the weekend, teams that are in the top four are the best at pressuring the opposition when they've got the ball.
"We need to improve that part of our game."
Adelaide faces the dangerous Gold Coast this weekend, another team in the hunt for a spot in the finals.
The Suns have the easiest run home of any team in the AFL
"They're fast, they move the ball really well so if you give them a chance they can really run you off your legs," he said.
"We need to go up there and start really well which we have against them in the past.
"I still think if you can put them under pressure they can be vulnerable with the ball.'
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry
