EMERGING Adelaide midfielder Matt Crouch is in danger of missing next Saturday's Showdown with Port Adelaide after being reported for rough conduct on North Melbourne forward Jarrad Waite.

Crouch appeared to collect Waite high with his hip as the Roo bent over to pick up the ball during the third quarter of the Crows' 10-point loss at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

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Although knocked over by the contact, Waite quickly recovered to take a free kick. 

However, Crouch bumped Waite when he could have tackled him, an action the Match Review Panel has taken an increasingly hard line on in recent seasons.

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

Crouch would be a big loss for Adelaide if suspended given his outstanding game against North.

The 20-year-old was his team's leading clearance winner on Saturday night (10) and finished with 23 disposals in a performance that earned praise from Crows coach Don Pyke. 

"He's continuing to grow and to build. He's a guy who's come on the scene last year in the main," Pyke said.

"He's had a really great pre-season. He's worked really hard on his game and he's starting to reap some of those benefits, which is terrific to see."

Pyke was coaching his first premiership game on Saturday night, and said after the match that the Crows' performance had been a positive first effort.

"For us, it's the first step. We've learnt some things tonight, some areas we've got to keep working away on," Pyke said. 

"Bu there was a lot to like tonight about our guys. I thought there were some really positive signs in the way we moved the ball and attacked the game.

"And we'll tighten other areas up as we go, but it's the first step against a good opposition and we now prepare and get ready for next week." 

Pyke said his team was "not miles off" where he hoped to eventually take them, while he was confident they had the right attitude to get there.

"We've got a really engaged group who are keen to keep learning about how we're going to play," Pyke said. 

"I was really pleased with the attitude and the effort of the players today. That wasn't questioned at all. 

"Look, we made some errors, we did some things we can improve on and we will."