Adelaide appears set to resist the temptation of ready-made AFL ruckmen Peter Everitt and Michael Gardiner as it rebuilds its tall division following the retirement of Matthew Clarke.

The Crows face a ruck shortage next season in the absence of 33-year-old Clarke and his partner Rhett Biglands, who has been ruled out for all of 2007 due to a knee reconstruction.

However both 248-gamer Clarke and coach Neil Craig expressed the view that a bevy of young talls, alongside accomplished performer Ben Hudson, would be preferable to Everitt or Gardiner.

Ivan Maric (eight AFL games), John Meesen (none) and Johnathan Griffin (none) have all shown promise over the past two years.

"I played out this year with the intention that it would be my last, and that's the way I came off the ground last weekend," Clarke said.

"The situation with Rhett did cause me to sit back and say 'what's going on here?'

"But, in consultation with the club and Neil, we felt it was probably best ... that in some regards it's time to show some faith in the young guys we have drafted over the last couple of years."

Craig said he had not been in touch with Everitt or Gardiner, both of whom carry numerous personality or contract issues that would not seem to fit with the Crows' club structure.

"I have not spoken to them, I do not know what their availability is," Craig said.

"What I will say is that the charter of our football club has not changed from two years ago, which was to try to play some winning football, and, in conjunction with that, to make sure we stick to trying to build our playing stocks with younger people.

"I think it is the way to go, so it is unlikely."

Clarke, who began his AFL career with Brisbane where he played 130 games before joining the Crows in 1999, had originally planned to quit last year, only for the club to retain him for another 12 months after Hudson was also forced to undergo a knee reconstruction.

Craig said Clarke could be proud of his efforts.

"I think the real key thing here is the way Matthew has finished," Craig said.

"I saw it with (former Crows captain) Mark Bickley - he finished playing outstanding AFL football - and Matthew has done exactly the same."

Crows chief executive Steven Trigg said Clarke had given the club outstanding service.

"It's a somewhat poignant day for us when one of your great servants decides to retire and Matthew has been a hell of a good bloke at the same time," he said.

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