For the second year in a row, North Melbourne will have to deal with an Adelaide side which has a different look for a season-opener.

Although the constant threats still remain – the damaging forward line, Sam Jacobs in the ruck, Daniel Talia at fullback – there has been changeover elsewhere, starting at the top.

Don Pyke is the new coach of the Crows, coming to the club with an impressive honour roll so far in his career.

- Two-time premiership player with West Coast
- 132 games played with West Coast
- West Coast best and fairest winner
- Adelaide midfield coach (2005-2006)
- West Coast stoppages and structures coach (2014-2015)

The huge task for the first-time senior coach is to fill the Patrick Dangerfield-sized hole in the Adelaide midfield. Although purely from a Round 1 perspective, North fans would be also happy to see the back of Sam Kerridge, now at Carlton. Memories of his six and four goal hauls against the Kangaroos haven’t faded.

Dangerfield’s departure brought a stack of young talent to the club – the Crows receiving Dean Gore as well as two draft picks, who ended up becoming Wayne Milera and Tom Doedee.

Of the two draftees, it was Milera in particular who impressed during the NAB Challenge, playing all three games and pushing himself into contention for a Round 1 debut.

Meanwhile Kerridge’s trade to the Blues brought back Troy Menzel, another addition to the enviable stock of small forwards Adelaide possesses. However, an interrupted pre-season may make it tough for Menzel to be at his best for the season-opener.

If there was an area where Adelaide perhaps needed strengthening, it was with its ball use coming out of the back half. Paul Seedsman was targeted to fix this area, and the Crows were able to obtain him from Collingwood for the price of a second round draft pick.

Another new acquisition, former Giant Curtly Hampton, will be unavailable for Round 1. He's the only player on the Crows’ injury list as it currently stands.