TALENTED Adelaide midfielder Brad Crouch is determined to fulfill his potential next season amid renewed confidence in his troublesome body.

The 22-year-old has been touted as Patrick Dangerfield's replacement in the Crows' engine room, but has battled injury woes since finishing runner-up to Jaeger O'Meara in the 2013 NAB AFL Rising Star award.

He missed the entire 2015 campaign due to stress fractures in his foot and struggled to get going early last year after an interrupted pre-season.

But Crouch eventually rediscovered his form – averaging 23 disposals from a career-best 16-game season – and is primed to go to the next level.

"Having that big batch of footy under my belt from last season has given me a lot of confidence and I now feel really good going into next season," Crouch told News Corp.

"It (2016) was definitely a bit of a see-sawing year for me. Early days I was struggling with my body coming in through the pre-season and coming back to running and training.

"I had a few tiny injuries that cost me some form.

"We have a really good opportunity over the next couple of years with how our list is placed and I will just concentrate on what I can bring to the side to help win games of footy."

Crouch at his best is a key cog in an Adelaide midfield, which came under fire after being beaten up by Sydney's hardened onball division in a semi-final exit last season.

Coach Don Pyke has zeroed-in on contested ball as a focus, but the Crows failed to land trade target Bryce Gibbs to offer star Rory Sloane some much-needed support.

However, Crouch is backing Adelaide's next wave of onballers to stand up.

"We have a lot of young midfielders on the list who will get more opportunities, which will be great for the footy club," he said.

"There's younger guys who have played two or three years that can step up.

"Charlie (Cameron) has improved his running over the pre-season and we will probably spend a little bit more time up higher and the wing a bit more.

"I think (Wayne) Milera will play a little bit of wing, there's (Troy) Menzel as well and Riley Knight is another one.

"Curtly Hampton can hopefully get a good run at it because he missed a lot of footy last year through injury.

"Hopefully there is improvement across the board."