Polished Adelaide midfielder Bernie Vince expects his astonishing rate of progress over the past two seasons to continue - starting with some unfinished business in this year's AFL finals.

Vince, 23, was named in this year's preliminary 40-man All-Australian squad and is favoured to win the Crows' best and fairest award after a season leading his side in numerous statistical categories.

It follows a promising 2008, when he broke through from the outer fringes of the Crows' list to become a valued member of the midfield.

"I think every training session we have I improve, and we have hundreds of those throughout the year, so the outside recognition is good, but also the in-club recognition is there as well, getting feedback from other players and coaches on how I'm going," Vince told AAP.

"I've worked really closely with Todd Viney and he's been awesome coming from another club, bringing in new ideas, and Mark Bickley coming in from outside has brought new and fresh ideas, and they've been great for me.

"The outside recognition is always good but it's the internal recognition that means the most to me, from the coaches and my peers."

Vince's first AFL final against Collingwood last year was a shock to him and several teammates, as the Crows lost at home in ignominious fashion.

This time around Vince said his and the club's attitude had matured considerably.

"Looking back now it just makes you even hungrier for this year and the position we're in now, definitely I think back to that game and I see it as a bit of a waste, a waste of a pretty good year," he said.

"We were top four until the last game on the Sunday in the last round, St Kilda had to win by 100 points and they did it somehow.

"I still think Essendon laid down against St Kilda that day, but it was very disappointing to go straight out.

"We had higher hopes to go further, but it definitely makes me hungrier for this year.

"It makes you appreciate winning finals, not that I've won a final yet, but makes you appreciate making the finals more.

"Last year we made the finals but probably didn't appreciate it as much as what it was worth and the chance you've got to win a premiership and that's why we're all here.

"Definitely hungrier this year, looking to turn that around and hopefully push further into the finals and win the ultimate, the grand final."

Vince's captain, mentor and fellow All-Australian squad member Simon Goodwin had little hesitation dubbing the former country footballer an "elite" player in the competition.

"Bernie's got enormous talent and what he has developed in his game is an unbelievable training ethic," Goodwin said.

"He's developed into an elite player and it's been great to watch."

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