Dawn of a new era for our clubs

Crows young gun Brad Crouch sings the team song after the 19-point win over Brisbane. Picture: Chris Hyde. Source: Getty Images

ON face value the Crows squad for the 2013 season looks pretty healthy.

Thirty-five of the 40 players on the senior list have played at least one AFL game, after Brad Crouch suited up yesterday against Brisbane in his first game for premiership points in the tri-colours.

The age of the group is perfect with just Ben Rutten, Graham Johncock, Brent Reilly, Ian Callinan and Scott Thompson just on or nearing 30, and there's a plethora of untapped potential at Brenton Sanderson's disposal to keep him occupied for many seasons to come.

For a second year coach it's a gift; a playing list with enough depth to handle a reasonable injury toll and enough brilliance to be a legitimate finals contender for many years to come.

The Crows premiership window may not be open just yet but it is getting very, very close.

A few critical holes in its squad must be filled to make that dream a reality but Houston, we have a problem!

The Crows will need to be smarter than every other team in the AFL simply to find a couple of stars to fill the problem areas.

Make no mistake, what they have at their disposal as we speak is not yet good enough.

Finding another quality tall forward and tall defender is a must if they are to make it to that one day in September while the debut of Crouch last night is the first piece of the club's premiership puzzle to be put in place.

Crouch takes care of any possible issues in the Crows midfield.

The Victorian teenager shows genuine class and toughness and has had the near perfect preparation for the new-age player.

An All Australian at under-18 level and with a season in the SANFL under his belt, the powerfully built youngster is well prepared for the next stage of his career.

At 184cm and 84kg he is perfectly built to handle the physical demands of the modern game.

The eyes of the football world will be were upon him as he stepped on to the Gabba for game one of what looks certain to be a long and very successful career.

If the North Ballarat youngster can make it after the journey he has taken the ideal pathway to the AFL will be set in stone forever.

Cam Ellis-Yolmen is the other one to watch but he may not come into contention for a senior berth until much later in the year.

The Woodville-West Torrens youngster is developing a very interesting game and with the clean hands he has there are no limits to where his game could go.

If it looms as an exciting year at West Lakes it promises to be an absolutely fascinating one at Alberton as new coach Ken Hinkley shapes his team for the future.

The Power has always had the nucleus of a finals contender and the inclusion of Angus Monfries, Ollie Wines and Co. has only made that possibility more inevitable.

Wines is the cream of their young crop.

The Rising Star nominee on his first hit-out last week, winning his share of the contested ball and putting it in the hands of the guns around him will be his charter for the first 12 months of his career.

With Travis Boak, Brad Ebert, Hamish Hartlett, Matthew Broadbent, Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard close by the Power will quickly develop a midfield to be feared and their climb back up the ladder into the top eight could be complete within the next 2-3 years.

Wines will be the linchpin in the midfield for the next 10 years and even at this early stage looks quality leadership material.

Few attack it harder, get it in better places and use it better than Wines.

The Power needs to complement him with some genuine speed to maximise his ball winning ability.

The health and soundness of their playing group is the great unknown and fitness guru Darren Burgess could prove to be the most important man at the club for the next few seasons.

That is the biggest challenge for all at Alberton, not to worry about what that haven't got but to maximise what they have and make sure they get them fit and ready for competition.

Get it right and a great story could result. Get it wrong and the club could well torch the next three seasons in the process.

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