SHATTERED Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has declared his side's 59-point loss to the Crows at Adelaide Oval one of the worst of his time at the club.
The Dogs came into the clash with everything to play for and were up for the fight for a half before conceding 11 second half goals to one in a meek surrender that left the coach "gutted".
Beveridge said the match would have ramifications for the reigning premiers and it was the moment he would be forced to ask some tough questions of his playing group.
"We've been questioned by the outside world about what our identity is... and that grates on you,'' Beveridge said.
"It's time to make sure that quarters and halves like that just don't happen.
"What happened in the second half was unacceptable.
"We're gutted. The Crows are very good. They competed extremely well in the air and at ground level but we obviously matched them for a little while but to (fall away) so poorly is not good enough."
Five talking points: Adelaide v Western Bulldogs
Beveridge has been fiercely loyal to his players, who took the club to glory last year for the first time in 62 seasons. But he conceded the second half fade-out was so severe it would force him to ask questions about the desire and fight of the group.
The Dogs were beaten by 44 in uncontested possessions after the long break and were unable to put pressure on an Adelaide side that did as it pleased on the outside.
"I think it is one of those variables; that 'want' is very hard to (measure) what's going on in that emotional range of your players,'' he said.
"We've obviously had it in our recent history and it's one of those things – when nights like this happen, you question whether or not it's totally there."
But Beveridge stopped short of saying wholesale personnel changes would take place in the club's next outing against Carlton on Sunday week, saying the Dogs had few younger players ready for an opportunity.
WATCH: Luke Beveridge's full media conference
The Dogs are all but certain to remain one win outside the top eight at the end of round because fellow top-eight hopefuls Port Adelaide (fifth) and West Coast (seventh) play one another. But the Bulldogs' percentage is now so clearly the worst of the top 10 sides that they might as well be two wins outside.
"On tonight's performance we'd be an also-ran if we got (to the finals),'' Beveridge said.
"We have to sit down and look at each other and get through it together and work out how we can find our way forward. There is still plenty left in the season."
Adelaide's aerial advantage was telling and it finished with 20 contested marks to four. They were particularly dominant up forward where Josh Jenkins and Taylor Walker took 18 marks. Beveridge said his back six were undersized but pointed some blame at his midfield for failing to stem the flow of clean ball coming forward.
Jason Johannisen and Taylor Walker were involved in a controversial third-quarter incident in which Walker bumped the Dog defender into the post, leaving him stunned. Beveridge said he would need to review the incident before passing any judgement.
He said Johannisen's performance (16 possessions) was solid, and he complimented Matthew Suckling on his match across half-back.
