Adelaide’s midfield has barely missed a beat since Dangerfield departed for Geelong, with Jacobs saying hungry players such as Matt Crouch and Jarryd Lyons had helped fill the void.

And without Dangerfield, the Crows have increased their scoring power.

Jacobs soars against the Swans last Saturday. Photo: Michael Errey, InDaily.

“Footy is a funny game,” Jacobs told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Thursday night.

“It happened to the Bulldogs as well, they lost Ryan Griffen and all that but they have gone to another level.

“What it does is creates opportunity.”

The Crows enter the stiffest of tests, Hawthorn at the MCG on Friday night, with the exciting Charlie Cameron coming in as expected for his first game of the season, replacing injured first-year forward Wayne Milera (quad).

Jacobs was confident of the Crows prevailing – provided enough Adelaide players chip in.

“One thing you will see with us throughout this year is something Pykey [coach Don Pyke] has really brought in, is a really even spread,” he said.

“I don’t think we have had any players who have come in and dominated but we have had players each week stand up and perform well.

“We have got some fresh faces… you can probably throw a blanket over 10 to 12 guys who have taken their game to another level.”

Hawthorn’s defensive stocks have been boosted with the return of Josh Gibson against the free-scoring Crows.

Gibson and Brad Hill return for the Hawks for the MCG match at the expense of Daniel Howe and Angus Litherland.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is wary of Adelaide’s ability to launch attacks from defence, feeding a forward line headlined by Eddie Betts and Taylor Walker.

“If they get that sort of rebound, then any forward line is going to cause damage, particularly the Adelaide one,” Clarkson said.

“[We need to] limit the supply and their forward 50 entries, particularly where they get them from… if they’re getting them from their high half-backs, rebounding really quickly and efficiently, we’re going to be in a bit of trouble.”

-AAP