FORMER Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson believes Patrick Dangerfield will follow Taylor Walker's lead and re-sign with the Crows, ignoring free agency in the process.

Dangerfield falls out of contract next year, and if he doesn't sign with Adelaide will become the most sought after free agent in the League.

Sanderson, who is preparing to study next year if he isn't offered an assistant coaching position, told SEN radio he believed the Crows' superstar would remain loyal.

"I think so, I hope so… the senior coaches don't like free agency because they can obviously lose their best payers but I think Paddy will stay," Sanderson said.

"That would be my gut feel.

"But you never know, stranger things have happened."

Sanderson has had several months to come to terms with his sacking from West Lakes and although he insisted his relationship with his former players and board member Mark Ricciuto were sound, he had regrets from his three-year tenure.

He hasn't ruled out a return to coaching though, and said that if the right opportunity was offered he'd return to the ring immediately.

Sanderson experienced first hand how difficult it was to coach a side without full support – senior assistant Dean Bailey was suspended for 16 weeks in 2013 before tragically dying earlier this year after a short battle with cancer.

Sanderson said a robust support team around a senior coach was crucial in the modern game.

"I would probably have to get back in as an assistant coach if I wanted to pursue that head coaching role again down the path," he said.

"But I'm also interested in some of the football administration roles, GM of footy roles and list manager roles, I think I could really add value.

"Having been through what I went through in the last 18 months, it's just really important you've got good people around you, and I think that's the area that's really growing in football departments.

"That role that can really support the senior coach and just ensure that he's doing his core business, which is coaching the footy team."