Out of sorts and almost out of contract, Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett has been challenged to salvage his AFL finals campaign by his coach.

Tippett’s form is concerning Crows coach Brenton Sanderson ahead of Adelaide’s preliminary final against Hawthorn at the MCG next Saturday.

The key forward kicked one goal – his first of the finals – in Adelaide’s 10 point semi-final victory against Fremantle on Friday night.

And Tippett, a renowned aerialist, took just two marks against the Dockers, after grabbing only three marks in his goal-less qualifying final against Sydney.

The Queenslander’s form dip comes as he considers offers from Brisbane and Gold Coast to return home when his Crows contract expires at season’s end.

“He is below his best and he’d be the first to admit that,” Sanderson said after Adelaide’s 12.9 (81) to 11.5 (71) win against the Dockers.

“… Tippo played his role, probably not to the standard we need him too.

“But he’s a very proud player and I’m sure we’ll see a much better effort from him next week.”

The Crows lost Sam Shaw for the preliminary final, the young defender straining a hamstring against Fremantle.

Shaw is the second tall defender that Sanderson has lost in the finals, following Rising Star award winner Daniel Talia breaking an arm last week.

“It’s another challenge for us, we’ll have to restructure the group again,” Sanderson said.

“Andy Otten was close to playing this week so he’s one that springs to mind.

“We have said all year that we have got good depth and if we needed to call on players, that we would get an even contribution, so that will have to be the challenge again this week.”