The Crows sit in 12th spot, two games outside the top eight and look at long odds to fight their way through the log-jam of sides occupying the slots from seventh place downwards.
But Sanderson said he and his charges were not about to "drop their bottom lip".
"There's still seven games to go, we're not going to give up. That's the most important message for our fans," he said after the match.
"This football team and me as coach, we're not going to roll over and die now. We'll come to work on Monday, we'll review the game and we'll get on with getting better."
Two difficult assignments against Geelong and Fremantle are next for the Crows, and Sanderson said the coming weeks would test the club's mettle.
"I've seen clubs (in situations) like this and they go two ways – you drop your bottom lip and give up, or you put your shoulders back and chin up and look for ways to get better."
The second-year coach bemoaned his team's tendency to "allow one big player to get off the chain" after Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan amassed 73 disposals between them on Friday night.
"Pendlebury, Swan lit up at different times. Pendlebury was outstanding. The two goals in the last quarter were captain's goals," Sanderson said.
Jarryd Lyons' four goals were a bright point for Adelaide, while Tom Lynch had his most productive outing since kicking 10 against Greater Western Sydney in round seven.
"I was so impressed with some of our young kids today," Sanderson said. "Jarryd Lyons comes in and kicks four, Tommy Lynch works his backside off and scrapped four goals.
"(Assistant coach) Darren Milburn's boys down back – (Luke) Brown, (Brodie) Smith, (Rory) Laird – we just keep seeing some young men who will be very important players for us in future."
But Sanderson saved most of his praise for 19-year-old midfielder Brad Crouch.
"He sees the game different to the rest. He's something special and is going to be an outstanding player.
"He didn't play as much as I would have liked earlier in the season but I wanted to teach him a lesson or two about defence. We saw tonight he played the complete game for us."
Adelaide will enjoy a nine-day break before playing Geelong at AAMI Stadium next Sunday.
