Adelaide forward Tom Lynch says earning respect is the first step in teammate Troy Menzel’s football resurrection.
Menzel, a former first round draft pick of Carlton, failed to play a senior game for Adelaide last after being traded to the Crows in exchange for Sam Kerridge and a bevy of on-traded draft picks.
On the eve of the 2016 pre-season practise match series the 22-year-old Menzel was publically called out by coach Don Pyke for a lack of work ethic.
“He is slowly earning the respect of all the players at the club and it takes a while when you’re a new guy to the club,” Lynch told SEN’s The Run Home.
“He’s worked extremely hard this summer to improve his football and he came back after the off-season in great shape.
"Hopefully he can get some confidence over the next few weeks and build towards earning a spot in the side.”
Given the presence of Lynch, Eddie Betts, Richard Douglas and emerging livewire Charlie Cameron on the Crows’forwardline, the task facing Menzel is a sizeable one.
The quartet combined for 156 goals in 2016 and was a driving force in the side’s successful season.
Lynch pinpointed hardness across the board as an area of improvement after the Crows got knocked off the ball by Sydney in a lop-sided semi-final.
“Fair to say we let ourselves down in the contest in particular against Sydney because we felt we were dominated inside the contest,” he said.
“It’s an area where we’ve focussed on over summer but against these elite teams you’ve got to do it week in week out.”
The 26-year-old, who kicked 42 goals and finished third in last year’s best and fairest, has blossomed into one of the game’s premier high half forwards since overcoming a series of injuries early in his career.
Lynch, a huge New England fan celebrated the Patriots memorable win in Melbourne while enjoying a scheduled three-day break.
Adelaide opens its 2017 campaign with an opening round JLT Community Series clash against Richmond at Etihad Stadium on February 24.