Burning questions for 2012: Adelaide

How will Brenton Sanderson fare as coach?

As one of five first-time senior coaches in 2012, the Crows' new mentor will be relatively free from criticism or pressure as he attempts to turn around Adelaide's fortunes. And it's not as if his side will have to achieve a great deal in order to compare favourably with the disaster they served up in 2011. Adelaide won just seven games and missed the finals for a second year running, with their 14th-placed finish their lowest since joining the AFL in 1991.

Under Neil Craig, the 'pride of South Australia' always had a go, but in recent years the dour Crows have lost many experienced players and have simply struggled to kick enough goals to even match it with mid-range teams.

Having served six years as an assistant, and the past four with Mark Thompson and Chris Scott's prolific Geelong sides, Sanderson appears well-placed to produce a more free-flowing, harder-edged style of play. Tellingly, the Cats were very keen to hang on to him in 2012. They rated him highly for the way he conducted himself after being pipped for their senior coaching role, but also for what he gave Scott and his team in 2011.

Sanderson has already turned over the Adelaide list considerably and has stated his aim of developing a more physical game style at Football Park, with boxing and wrestling techniques featuring prominently in off-season training. He has also brought no-nonsense defender Darren Milburn across from Kardinia Park to join assistants Mark Bickley, Scott Camporeale and Dean Bailey on his coaching panel.

Adelaide has a proud AFL record though, with 11 finals appearances in 20 years, and the Crows faithful will only tolerate one more September of twiddling their thumbs before the new boy starts to feel heat. Fans will expect Sanderson’s 2012 Crows to kick a lot more goals, and if they can eliminate the very un-Adelaide-like capitulations that plagued 2011, between eight and 10 wins will be considered more than a pass mark for the coaching debutant.    

Can Tippett return to his best?

In short, yes, but an improved return from Tippett isn't just down to the big forward himself. Like all of Adelaide's goalkickers, he suffered from poor delivery after the retirements of Andrew McLeod, Tyson Edwards and Simon Goodwin at the end of 2010.

If Sanderson can get more drive from the backline and midfield, if Taylor Walker continues to improve and one of Ricky Henderson, ex-Saint Tom Lynch or ex-Swan Lewis Johnston can become genuine third tall forwards, Tippett will be freed from the double and triple-teaming that often occurred last season. Then it's all up to Tippett to stay fit and produce the goods.

Will Bernie Vince shine under a new coach?

Vince's ejection from Adelaide's SkyCity casino at 6am on Boxing Day isn't exactly what Sanderson would have expected when the blond midfielder spoke of his desire to impress his new coach. After an injury-interrupted 2011, the Crows' 2010 club champion has plenty to prove in 2012. Talk is cheap, though, and evidence suggests he is still a way off the professionalism needed to become a very good player at AFL level. At his best, Vince is capable of A-grade midfield performances and the Crows desperately need a player of his quality in the engine room.

If Vince can get his head together though, Sanderson could do worse than move him up forward for extended periods to try and extract another 20-30 goals from his midfielder and take the load off his underperforming forward line.

Next up: Western Bulldogs

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of BigPond Sport.