Gallucci affirms that the connection between the playing group has led to their success in 2017, sitting six points clear on the top of the ladder.

“We’re a close group, we understand each other and how we operate. It’s not always full on stuff. We do a lot of group activities,” Gallucci told Inside Sport.

The Crows have lost key personnel in recent years, including Jack Gunston, Kurt Tippett, Phil Davis, Bernie Vince and Jarryd Lyons.

They lost their coach, Phil Walsh, through tragic circumstances in 2015. Patrick Dangerfield also left and became a Brownlow Medalist.

“You don’t like saying it, but what happened a couple of years ago with Phil Walsh, it’s brought the group closer together. It’s definitely one of the closer groups I’ve been a part of,” Gallucci said.

The Crows have since unearthed a breed of youngsters to take them forward, including Matt Crouch, Rory Laird, Rory Atkins, Jake Kelly, Charlie Cameron, Mitch McGovern, and the list goes on.

Their recruiting staff has lured the likes of Sam Jacobs, Josh Jenkins, Eddie Betts, Tom Lynch from rival clubs and even Hugh Greenwood and Alex Keath from other sports to construct a side that will contend for a sustained period.

Much speculation has been made about Jake Lever’s potential departure, but they’ve created a system that could function without him.

Gallucci has high praise for senior coach Dom Pyke and his skipper Tex Walker.

“I think the proof’s in the pudding really," he said. "Pykey likes to go over the structures and all the strategies but at the same time he’s a very understanding person and coach. He’s a good people person.”

“He (Walker) demands elite standards from everyone. He’s a great leader.

“He likes to have a lot of fun. You know what he’s like with the media and on the Footy Show, he’s a very funny man. But when we need to get serious, he gets serious. That’s the best way to be.”

Taken at pick 15 with Adelaide’s first round selection in the 2016 national draft, Gallucci recalls his debut against Brisbane in Round 9, saying it was a “boyhood dream come true.”

“It was good to get the phone call from Pykey, it was really exciting," he said. "The first thing I did was call Mum and Dad. Dad was almost in tears.

The Crows play Essendon, Sydney and West Coast in their final three games of the home and away season. Two more wins would guarantee a top two finish and home final at their Adelaide Oval fortress.

“We’re a big chance, but we’ve got to see how we go for the rest of the year," Gallucci added.

“It’s quite simple really, you just can’t lose another one for the rest of the year and you just go from there. Hopefully we can rise to the top.”