Gibbs bullish about Crows' AFL midfield

Gibbs' first season at the Crows after crossing from Carlton was marred by frequent injuries to his fellow midfielders.

Brad Crouch didn't play a game last season, his brother Matt missed a chunk of the campaign, and Rory Sloane was sidelined about half the year - all because of various injuries.

So Gibbs says he's relishing the prospect of playing with the Crows' premier onball brigade in Saturday's season-opener against Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval.

"It excites me that we have got the full contingency available and out on the park," Gibbs told reporters on Tuesday.

"We have been working together really well over the summer and I just can't wait to be playing with all those guys on Saturday afternoon

"The continuity probably wasn't there last year with injuries and what-not. It excites me that we're all fit and healthy."

When Gibbs arrived at Adelaide, he was widely considered to be the cream on a crop of players who had lost the 2017 grand final.

But the Crows missed the finals in his first season at the club in a year pockmarked by controversies including a spate of injuries and a divisive pre-season camp.

Gibbs said he had noticed a marked change in mood at the club entering the looming season.

"Last year I didn't know any different coming into the club, I just went about my business," he said.

"(But) certainly I think that the vibe is back, the bubble is back.

"And everyone is really keen just to get he season started ... excitement levels are through the roof."

But the 253-gamer cautioned against expecting Adelaide to comfortably account for a Hawthorn side missing their injured Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell.

"They're still a strong side, even without Mitchell," he said.

"They have got a really great midfield, they have got a lot of running halfbacks and their forwards are dangerous as always.

"We're certainly not going to underestimate them just because the reigning Brownlow medallist isn't in their midfield."

Australian Associated Press