HE'S spent more time in the rehab room than he has on the footy field this year, but Adelaide winger Paul Seedsman looms as the Crows' Grand Final X-Factor.

And the 2015 Anzac Medallist returns to the MCG on Saturday as an important component of the Crows' plans to shatter Richmond's premiership dreams.

Seedsman has missed most of this season with groin injuries, but has hit form at the right time of the year.

In just his fourth game of the season, Seedsman had 19 possessions, took seven marks and kicked two goals in Friday night's 61-point preliminary final victory over Geelong.

The 25-year-old struggled to jog laps at the start of the season with his groin issues, coming back through the SANFL before making his AFL return in round 19.

 "It was a strange one, pretty unique, and it was frustrating because as we were going it was always two weeks away, two weeks away, but we never really knew (how long)," Seedsman told News Corporation.

"It obviously went for a lot longer than we thought.

"I was walking or cross training and swimming, a lot of bike riding, all the fun stuff inside.

"That was the majority of the pre-season, I did my left one (groin) in about February then just as the left one was getting good to go the right one let me down.

"But hopefully I'll look back at that and it has set me up for the years to come, and now I'm feeling great."

Seedsman played 49 games in five seasons with the Magpies, including collecting the Anzac Medal as best on ground in the Anzac Day clash with Essendon in 2015.

But he requested a trade at the end of 2015 and played 15 games with the Crows last year.

The season-ending knee injury to half-back flanker Brodie Smith has allowed Seedsman to retain his spot in the Crows' side.

 "Unfortunately, some blokes have been struck with some unfortunate circumstances and all I can do is go out there and take my opportunity," he said.

"It has been one of those years, frustrating, and at times you don't think you're going to get there, but I've just had to keep plodding away and waiting for that opportunity.

"Now you don't really know what to think other than you're going into a Grand Final, but we move on to the recovery phase pretty quickly then get prepared."