ADELAIDE coach Don Pyke has admitted his side was ambushed by North Melbourne in a huge upset in Hobart on Saturday.

The Crows were kept scoreless in an opening term during which they gave up 10.4 to the Kangaroos and were unable to make significant inroads at Blundstone Arena, eventually falling to their first loss of the season by 59 points.

"We knew they were a very capable side but they hit us right between the eyes and the game was effectively over at quarter-time," Pyke said.

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Pyke blamed a lack of pressure and intensity for his side’s poor performance and suggested the Crows may not have entered the contest with the required mindset.

"Didn’t bring pressure, our tackling was down and our contested numbers were poor early and that got the ball played in their half," he said.

"Their pressure was very good and ours was the opposite and there was just too big a gap.

WATCH: Don Pyke's full post-match press conference

"If you turn up thinking it’s going to happen and you’re not prepared to pay the price, sometimes you get sat on your bum and that’s what happened to us today."

The Crows will look to bounce back on their home deck next week against the Demons and Pyke expects a telling response from the group.

"I’d like to think we don’t need a wake-up call," he said.

Five talking points: North Melbourne v Adelaide

"I’d like to think we’re capable of playing at a high standard all of the time and that’s the disappointing part (today).

"Clearly it’s going to require a response and that’s the challenge for us as a group now is to accept that what we put out today wasn’t the level we wanted and wasn’t representative of the footy we’ve played this year."

Pyke said tall forward Tom Lynch was "fine" despite failing a concussion test following a heavy tackle applied by Jarrad Waite and will be further assessed during the week.