ADELAIDE is understood to have shored up its on-field future by signing two of its greatest players - Mark Ricciuto and Simon Goodwin - to new contracts.
Captain Ricciuto, 31, is believed to have penned a new one-year deal and Goodwin, second favourite for the Brownlow Medal, a new two-year contract, taking him through to the end of 2008.
Both players were due to fall out of contract at the end of the season. Crows chief executive Steven Trigg would not confirm nor deny the re-signings, simply saying: "We're working on a number of new contracts and we hope to finalise some of them in the next few days."
Ricciuto and Goodwin are understood to be the first of several high-profile re-signings.
Adelaide has been waiting for the announcement of the new AFL pay deal, which was finalised on Wednesday, before putting the finishing touches to the contracts of several other key players, most notably dual Norm Smith Medallist Andrew McLeod.
Veteran defenders Ben Hart and Nathan Bassett are others locked in contract negotiations.
"Andrew is not the only one we're working on," Trigg said.
"There are a number of senior players needing to be done and I can assure our members and supporters that we're working as quickly as we can to get them stitched up because they are all important to us.".
The new pay deal will see AFL players get a 24.4 per cent increase over the next five years, including a rise of 7.3 per cent next year.
McLeod, who is seeking a two-year contract extension, is likely to get his wish despite turning 30 - an age the Crows prefer to give players only one-year deals - today.
Ricciuto's age meant he was happy to accept a one-year extension.
Dual premiership player Goodwin, who turns 30 on December 26, fell out of contract at the right time.
Given he is still some months from turning 30, the Crows had no hesitation in giving him a multi-year extension.
His form demands it.
Goodwin, in career-best touch, is second favourite behind West Coast dynamo Chris Judd for the Brownlow and ranks second in the AFL in disposals with 471 - 10 behind Western Bulldog Scott West.
Goodwin is the competition leader in inside 50s (102) and second in scoring assists (30) behind Magpie Alan Didak (37).
Ricciuto, handicapped by pre-season injuries, has starred in attack to be the Crows leading goalkicker with a career-best 44
Captain Ricciuto, 31, is believed to have penned a new one-year deal and Goodwin, second favourite for the Brownlow Medal, a new two-year contract, taking him through to the end of 2008.
Both players were due to fall out of contract at the end of the season. Crows chief executive Steven Trigg would not confirm nor deny the re-signings, simply saying: "We're working on a number of new contracts and we hope to finalise some of them in the next few days."
Ricciuto and Goodwin are understood to be the first of several high-profile re-signings.
Adelaide has been waiting for the announcement of the new AFL pay deal, which was finalised on Wednesday, before putting the finishing touches to the contracts of several other key players, most notably dual Norm Smith Medallist Andrew McLeod.
Veteran defenders Ben Hart and Nathan Bassett are others locked in contract negotiations.
"Andrew is not the only one we're working on," Trigg said.
"There are a number of senior players needing to be done and I can assure our members and supporters that we're working as quickly as we can to get them stitched up because they are all important to us.".
The new pay deal will see AFL players get a 24.4 per cent increase over the next five years, including a rise of 7.3 per cent next year.
McLeod, who is seeking a two-year contract extension, is likely to get his wish despite turning 30 - an age the Crows prefer to give players only one-year deals - today.
Ricciuto's age meant he was happy to accept a one-year extension.
Dual premiership player Goodwin, who turns 30 on December 26, fell out of contract at the right time.
Given he is still some months from turning 30, the Crows had no hesitation in giving him a multi-year extension.
His form demands it.
Goodwin, in career-best touch, is second favourite behind West Coast dynamo Chris Judd for the Brownlow and ranks second in the AFL in disposals with 471 - 10 behind Western Bulldog Scott West.
Goodwin is the competition leader in inside 50s (102) and second in scoring assists (30) behind Magpie Alan Didak (37).
Ricciuto, handicapped by pre-season injuries, has starred in attack to be the Crows leading goalkicker with a career-best 44
