Neil Craig's tenure as Adelaide AFL coach, which reaches 100 games this week against Richmond, can be neatly divided in two.

The first was a honeymoon period from the time of his appointment in mid-2004 until round 16, 2006.

In that time the Crows carried almost all before them, compiling an enviable 36-14 record and galloping to runaway favouritism for the 2006 AFL flag, after narrowly missing out on the 2005 grand final.

All that ended abruptly in game 51, an 82-point hiding at the hands of eventual premiers West Coast at Subiaco.

Since that day the record has been far more average, and if Richmond manage an upset win on Saturday in game No.100 then Craig's ledger in his second 50 will be 25-25.

The irony here is that Craig is arguably a better and more adaptable coach now than when his teams were flying two years ago - but without all the personnel to prove it.

"Who's the best coach in the competition at the moment, is it (Geelong coach) Mark Thompson or is it (Melbourne coach) Dean Bailey? How do you compare? Because it's not apples with apples," Craig said.

"I think the style we play can be very successful, it takes a while to teach new people that style and we've got a lot of newness in our footy club.

"I think a lot of clubs have implemented some of the aspects of that style as well, so that doesn't worry me at all."

What is unquestionable is the impact Craig had in his first 50 games caused pronounced changes to the AFL in his next 50.

Teams developed ways to attack through and also utilise the rolling zone his team employed.

The value of playing on quickly was emphasised.

West Coast then Geelong were able to reach heights of attacking accomplishment only possible because they had co-opted and adapted several of Craig's ideas.

Adelaide, meanwhile, have dropped back to the pack, and with a developing list may be stuck there for some time.

Craig though is sure the experience and advice gleaned from his first 100 games means he will be better equipped for the next 100.

"I think I have made some significant changes," he said.

"If you are not changing, you are not standing still but you get faced with standing still if you don't change on a gradual basis.

"It is important to predict what trends are going to occur, what you do need to change, in areas like the way players think, the way you need to train players.

"If in 100 games' time I am sitting here and saying I haven't changed much, it might be time then to say to me, 'You'd better go'."

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