A hunt for inside aggressors, 'unsociable' nigglers and outside runners should be high on the player shopping list if Adelaide are to atone for their listless grand final effort, according to a dual premiership great.
Crows champion Ben Hart believes the club's disappointing performance against Richmond at the MCG revealed the team lacked midfield grunt and burst speed. It also showed up a lack of "mongrel" among the players, Hart says.
The four-time All-Australian said the Crows need to be active during the trade period to find players that fit that mould to develop a reputation akin to that of Hawthorn who were dubbed the 'unsociable Hawks' during their premiership reign.
"When a game is really up for grabs or it really requires you to butt heads with an opposition," Hart told ESPN.
"I think [the Crows players] are not naturally that type.
"They need to be more abrasive. When they wind themselves up to be competitive beasts, they normally get the job done. But that needs to be consistent. If they can find that regularly, they'll be around the mark.
"You look at teams like Hawthorn. When they were at their best, they were they 'unsociable Hawks' and that just came naturally for them. Adelaide need to find something like that.
"On the outside of that, I think they need to add some leg speed. It didn't show up too much when they're winning because they move the ball really well, but they lack that real burst speed.
"They need those powerful types who can break away from the stoppages, just like [Collingwood's] Adam Treloar. Those repeat speed guys are pretty important for them."
The Crows' grand final capitulation could have lingering ramifications to the players' psyche, with reports of on-field fighting by the players during the game potentially sprinkling into the pre-season.
And with player movements afoot -- Jake Lever has declared his desire to return to Melbourne, and the club appears unlikely to hold onto contracted forward Charlie Cameron -- a new-look, rejuvenated outfit is required for the Crows to be elevated to the premiership dais.
There will also be changes in the coaching box, with highly regarded forwards coach David Teague, who masterminded the competition's highest scoring attack, having accepted a position at Carlton.
Hart endorsed the club's move to add more polish in the form of Bryce Gibbs, but warned that "selling the house" to secure the Carlton player would be detrimental.
"I think they've got enough of that type. The emergence of the Crouch boys, plus [Hugh] Greenwood, they've got enough of that type. But if you can get him, then definitely.
"Maybe an extra ball user down the wings or halfback is something the club should chase.
"A performance like last Saturday's shows up their glaring weaknesses. They're doing a lot right, but it's just about trying to find that extra five percent."