SATURDAY’S win over Greater Western Sydney gives Adelaide the belief its brand of football can cut it against the League’s best, says Crows coach Don Pyke. 

The Giants entered the game on the back of a six-game winning streak that had seen them move into fourth spot on the ladder and assert themselves as a possible premiership contender.

On the other hand Adelaide came to the contest having suffered narrow losses to four of the competition’s top six sides in North Melbourne, Geelong, Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs.

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Pyke had previously stated his side was around the mark but not quite at the level to consistently challenge the top four teams. 

But he said Saturday’s 22-point win over the highly-rated Giants offered the club a boost of confidence that, at their peak, the Crows were indeed able to push the cream of the crop.

“Every win’s important against a quality opposition and GWS have shown that [they’re quality] throughout the year - they’ve had some really big wins,” Pyke said.

“That’s part of us building in the direction we want to go.

“All that just creates some belief, not only within the players and their capacity to play at the level, but also to play the style of footy we want to play, which they believe can get them as far as they want to go.”

Five talking points: Adelaide v Greater Western Sydney

The Crows led by as many as 46 points at the final change, but a late charge by the Giants threatened to sour the home side’s night.

The Giants booted five unanswered goals until Adam Kennedy was concussed when he fell heavily in a marking contest, resulting in a lengthy break in play.

It was a pause that broke his side’s momentum and helped the Crows hang on to claim victory.

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“The last quarter was causing a bit of angst, I must admit, we were a bit edgy up top,” Pyke said.

“There were some good learnings for us in the last quarter …we went away from the stuff that had put us in a good position at three-quarter time.

“We were on top in the contested ball and then all of a sudden in the last quarter we lost our share.

“The funny thing is that in the last quarter we still had 14 inside 50s, so we still had opportunities.

“To GWS’ credit they kept coming and we were able to at least hold them off at the end, which was pleasing but it wasn’t good for the ticker."

Watch Don Pyke's full post-match press conference  

Pyke was particularly pleased at the work of his midfielders throughout Saturday’s game.

He acknowledged questions that had been asked of his midfield in recent weeks, but said he was proud of their effort at stoppages against the Giants.