ADELAIDE coach Don Pyke says his team has "no excuses" for its shock three-point loss to Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Despite a lengthy list of injuries to key players, the Crows were expected to brush aside a youthful Dockers outfit containing 13 players with 45 games' experience or less.
And at times it looked like they might, particularly during a dominant six-goal-to-zero second quarter fuelled by hardened midfielders Bryce Gibbs and Matt Crouch.
DOCKERS HOLD ON Full match coverage and stats
But Adelaide wilted under Fremantle’s relentless pressure and lost the count for disposals (360-427), tackles (54-64), contested possessions (150-151), clearances (34-35) and centre clearances (8-10).
Pyke's men eventually conceded five of the last seven goals and face the unenviable challenge of beating Hawthorn (away), West Coast (home), Richmond (away) and Geelong (home) in their next four games with their win-loss tally precariously placed at 6-6.
"There’s no excuses today, we came here with a team we thought was capable of getting a result and we didn’t get it," Pyke said post-match.
"The reality is at the end of the year, you end where you end for a reason and you sort of get what you get.
"Right now, we haven’t been good enough consistently enough to win more games of footy than we’ve won."
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The Crows of 2018 look a vastly different prospect to the team that made last year's Grand Final on the back of breakneck ball movement and gut-running through the midfield.
Adelaide's plight hasn't been helped by the unavailability of Rory Laird (hand), Tom Lynch (side strain), Rory Sloane (foot), Riley Knight (hamstring), Mitch McGovern (ankle), Brodie Smith (knee) and Brad Crouch (groin).
Pyke deflected suggestions his team lacked an identity, but admitted his players were "out of sync" and low on confidence.
"I think it’s fair to say we're not playing with our usual level of confidence and that stems off the back of results and feedback we get week to week," he said.
"Today we gave up too many easy goals off the back of some of our skill errors and losing some contests and what will create wins for us. We’re just not doing that consistently at the moment.
"Once we tidy those things up, then we'll get back into the space where we’ll be challenging in games and winning games again.
"Until we do that, we’ll still be on the edge of more hope versus the genuine belief."
WATCH Don Pyke's full post-match media conference
Adelaide's injury woes worsened with the loss of reliable defender Luke Brown in the final quarter after hurting his ankle in a marking contest with Michael Walters.
Brown was assisted from the ground by medical staff and finished the game on crutches.
The Crows are expecting to regain Laird and Lynch next week, while Sloane is on track to return after the round 13 bye.
