Adelaide Crows to seek out draft dodgers for 2014 North Melbourne key forward Drew Petrie "would have been handy," says Brenton Sanderson, but he has re-signed with the Kangaroos. BRENTON Sanderson smiled wryly when he read the report announcing North Melbourne key forward Drew Petrie had signed another contract with the Kangaroos. The AFL had just released its free agency list and he had looked like the perfect target for the Crows - an athletic forward who leads up with authority and has a booming kick. "He would have been handy," Sanderson said. There's a few other guys, too. We'll keep looking at the free agency market. Adelaide has settled on Shaun McKernan and Josh Jenkins in the forward slots for now, but ever since Taylor Walker blew out his knee, the forward area for the club can be likened to a reality show. Unless the current combination clicks, the club will test players such as Andy Otten, normally a key defender, Lewis Johnston when he comes back from injury and Ricky Henderson as it seeks to fill slots for at least two big forwards. The Crows could target Sydney Swans ruckman Mike Pyke if he's pushed out of the line-up by Kurt Tippett. The forward structure became the Crows' obvious area of uncertainty when Kurt Tippett left for Sydney. When Walker went down, it became anybody's guess how it would look. What did become obvious is that the Crows will act to find depth in the field of football's most prized commodity - the tall, goal-kicking forward. There are three obvious ways for the Crows to go, and the club's recruiting staff have told The Advertiser they will scrutinise all options. The first, and most obvious, is the free agency market. A restricted free agent can be brought in if his original club does not match an offer made by the an opposition club; unrestricted free agents can go to the club of their choosing. "We'll be in the market, I guess, when the free agency comes around later in the season," Sanderson said. West Coast Eagles small forward Mark LeCras could be on Adelaide's shopping list for next season. Inaugural coach Graham Cornes said the club ought to look at all three options: developing from within, scouring the free agency market and looking for suitable trades. And Taylor Walker will return next season. "It's about this season first," he said. But they should go after a big name, like a Jeremy Cameron or another one of those boys at GWS. Jonathan Brown is the big one but Justin Koschitzke is still a good player. The trouble with key forwards is that they know they are a scarce resource. It means they tend to dictate terms when it comes to where they land and is why it wasn't surprising that when a club dislodged Quinten Lynch from West Coast, it was the big-time Collingwood that did it. Adelaide's best play - and one which would help repair some of the fallout from the Kurt Tippett affair - is to seek a trade with Sydney. When Tippett comes into the side of the reigning premier, somebody has to come out, and it is logical to think that the highest-paid player will always be in front in the pecking order. That opens the door for the Crows to ask about Mike Pyke, who has been so important in being able to both ruck and go forward at Sydney but might become an insurance policy when Tippett strips for his first game. With key forward Sam Reid signed to a long-term deal, the other one worth asking about is Shane Mumford, even though people think of him more as a ruckman than a ruckman-forward. The Crows will not be desperate to bring in a senior player, because Sanderson has a high degree of confidence in this group, which is yet to hit its prime. But it will look, and look closely, at finding a mid-to-late-20s player to add to its forward structure after seeing much of its own talent cross to other clubs - players such as ruckman Ivan Maric, Kurt Tippett, Nathan Bock and Phil Davis. What's worse, Adelaide will have fewer options at the draft after the sanctions imposed because of the club's infractions in the Tippett affair. It means the club will have to work even harder and smarter to have a win as it seeks to top up its attacking stocks. The club was successful in landing the biggest name in the game once before when it secured the services of Wayne Carey. It comes down to how quickly the players at the club's disposal develop and whether the recruiters seek to go down the same path. The most explosive forward in the competition is unlikely to consider Adelaide. The most likely scenario is that he stays at Hawthorn and other options include returning to his native Western Australia. Appears to be a big-city man. Not your typical big key forward, but an outstanding lead-up mark who can generate a lot of goals. It's unlikely anybody can prise him out of Brisbane, but he grew up in Warrnambool, which is between Melbourne and Adelaide, and the question is worth asking. Has always been the No.2 behind Nick Riewoldt at St Kilda and is from a country town. Adelaide might appeal for the final phase of his career. Kicked 41 goals in 2011 but injuries have been a concern. Depends on the medical. It seems unrealistic the Giants would let go of this superstar in waiting who has recently signed a long-term deal, but they have an abundance of early picks at Blacktown and at some stage some will want to leave. Doesn't get the game time he deserves because Geelong is such a difficult side to break into with numerous key forward options. Was considered a super talent but is yet to have it teased out of him either at Hawthorn or Brisbane. Worth considering. There is an abundance of talls at Arden St and with key man Drew Petrie re-signing this week one of them might seek a change for greater opportunities. Has filled the ruck/utility role well, but might be interested in a permanent home up forward. Seems to be stuck in the queue behind Port's other tall options.