NOT content with steering the Reds to an inaugural A-League title, canny ‘keeper Eugene Galekovic has trumped envious and sleep-deprived new fathers in a rare bonding experience with baby Jayden.

Tending to newborns in the wee hours can break a man. It’s no problem for Reds skipper Galekovic, who unleashes the ultimate pacifier, replays of the club’s stirring grand final triumph against Western Sydney Wanderers.

“I watched a few (games) early on when the little one was keeping me up. I thought I may as well watch the final, so me and him have watched it a few times,” said Galekovic with a satisfied chuckle.

“It was special, a grand final with 45,000 South Australians. There will never be an AFL grand final at Adelaide Oval as it will always be in Melbourne. We are just happy we had it there in front of our home fans.”

Winning is both seductive and addictive.

Sweet memories of Isaias’ set-piece crowd pleaser against the Wanderers and super sub Pablo Sanchez’ show-stopper has Galekovic demanding more from his men in 2016-17.

“It was obviously a great season. Being at the club so long, nine years and to do what we did last year was icing on the cake,” said Galekovic, who has used the A-League recess to rehabilitate a knee that required surgery after Round 1 last season.

“There is still ambition to do more and go back-to-back. It does make you hungrier, when you get a taste of it you want it again.”

There will be no effective title defence by treading water.

Manager Guillermo Amor will augment the masterful, pragmatic game plan that confounded rivals last season (after early teething problems).

“We don’t want be a champion that starts on the back foot. We need to put pressure on other teams,” said 230-game veteran Galekovic.

“Teams will want to knock us off so we have to be better, everything we do has to be better to keep our mantle as champion.

“All good teams have to adapt. The game changes so much. Depending on who we played we tinkered with little things to give us an advantage and this year will be the same.”

Finding top shelf reinforcements for versatile Socceroo Craig Goodwin, winger Bruce Kamau and habitual scorer Sanchez will be non-negotiable if Adelaide’s to prosper across the FFA Cup, A-League and Champions League.

“There’s some quality players gone and we have to replace that with the same or even better for us to be better for next season. I have full confidence in the football department to get that right,” said four-time goal-keeper of the season Galekovic.

The FFA Cup will provide welcome focus by August given the Reds won’t replicate last year’s winter friendlies against Villarreal and Liverpool.

Adelaide’s defence of the league and premier’s plate double gets rolling on October 9 away to Newcastle Jets, then continues with blockbuster home games against the Wanderers and Melbourne Victory.

“This season our eyes are on the FFA Cup in August. It is a hard slog before that if you want to be successful,” said Galekovic.

Enduring legends Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer have been linked with A-League stints this season and Galekovic says this would only enhance the cachet for Adelaide’s title defence.

“It would be good to play against them for the quality of the A-League, to keep improving. Big names involved would be good for the game,” said Galekovic.