Struggling to keep its season alive at 0-3, the Crows are the worst offenders this season for scores from turnovers, conceding 277 points – an alarming 65 points more than the next worst club, Carlton.
But Sanderson wants his team to remain brave against St Kilda on Sunday and avoid the anxiety that he believes has crept into its performance.
The Crows have worked to wipe turnovers from their game in every training session this week - not by becoming more conservative, but by taking more risks.
"I think there's a bit of anxiety now because there is talk about the Crows turning the ball over … sometimes players don't even want to get the ball because of that anxiety," Sanderson said.
"My message has been 'I don't care if you turn the ball over, but take a risk, play on, try and find a target and if it turns over, it turns over'.
"What I don't want is our guys to go further and further into their shells and just play really safe football because we'll lose that game.
"We need to be brave, we need to be bold, we need to take the game on, take some risks because without risk there's no reward."
Sanderson said he had noticed a resolve from within the coaching and playing ranks not to the season be remembered for its shaky start.
He said the football department was the closest it had been under his leadership.
Sanderson insisted the club would fight through its current slump and would be improved by doing so.
"We need more from every player, not just relying on six or seven guys contributing; once we get a team effort for four quarters we feel like we're not far away," he said.
"In the two and a half years I've been here, the playing group and the coaches have never been closer- and I really mean that. We're in this together, we're going to fight our way out of this.
"Whether that can happen this week or in the next two or three weeks, we are really determined that, as a group, we are going to get through this little rough patch and we'll be a better club when we do."
That task could be made easier as early as Sunday if important forward Tom Lynch makes a surprise return from a shoulder injury.
Lynch dislocated his shoulder in a practice match on the eve of the season and will play this week, probably in the SANFL.
Sanderson said the running forward had been sorely missed along with several of the club's best players.
"If you threw (Ricky) Henderson, (Nathan) van Berlo, Lynch, (Taylor) Walker, Brad Crouch back into this side we're a much more dangerous looking team – that's not an excuse, that's just reality," he said.
"Once we can get a few of those guys back, Lynch is probably the next one, then probably Andy Otten, then probably Taylor Walker, then we're starting to feel like we're getting back to full strength."
Twitter: @AFL_Harry
