Melbourne’s caretaker coach Neil Craig says his inside knowledge of the Adelaide Crows won’t be a factor in Saturday’s AFL game between the clubs.

But Craig admits he still has a soft spot for the Crows, who he coached for seven seasons until departing late in the 2011 season.

“That emotional attachment is still there,” Craig told reporters in Adelaide on Friday.

“But that is okay … that is part of the industry.”

Craig was coach when Adelaide recruited a batch of young stars including Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane, but said some of Adelaide’s side to take the field at AAMI Stadium weren’t at the club during his tenure.

“It changes really quickly – it’s a bit frightening how quickly it does change,” he said.

“But obviously you have got guys like Sloane, (Scott) Thompson, Dangerfield, (Nathan) van Berlo, (Ben) Rutten and (David) Mackay – I have great admiration for all of those players.

“But there is not too much you can carry from it. That is a bit of smoke and mirrors stuff.”

Craig said it was ironic he returned to AAMI Stadium as an opposition coach for Adelaide’s last game at the ground, with AFL games to move to redeveloped Adelaide Oval from next season.

“It will be a special day, I’m really looking forward to it, having been involved in South Australian footy for a long time,” he said.

“I remember when this (stadium) first opened. And it will be an emotional day I guess for South Australia in a lot of ways and and I’m just privileged to be part of it via the Melbourne Football Club.

“To play the last game here against Adelaide, everything has been aligned to a certain extent in terms of personal indulgence.”

The Demons, cemented in 17th spot with just two wins, enter the fixture as rank outsiders against the 13th-placed Crows, who will miss the finals.

But Melbourne has been bolstered by the return of key defender James Frawley and attacking spearhead Chris Dawes.

“They are two key players for us at both ends of the ground, experienced players,” Craig said.

“They come back but they have been out for three weeks. And whilst we have a vision in our head of how we want them to jump back into the game, being out for three weeks now in this game, you just don’t come straight back in and step into top form.

“But their leadership on the ground will be good for us.”