Despite declaring themselves ready for the increased expectation in 2013, the Crows haven't managed to recover the form that saw them finish a kick away from a Grand Final last year.
Although fewer players have hit peak form this season (and hit it for shorter periods), Dangerfield said last year's amazing campaign was always going to be hard to match.
"We had a lot of players have outstanding seasons last year, almostbreakout seasons, and it's hard to replicate that sort of form," Dangerfield told AFL.com.au.
"[And] last year we had a really even contribution from all players. This year we haven't had the same level of contributors.
"It's hard when you do everything you possibly can to prepare yourselfand the coaches do everything they possibly can to prepare the team, butit doesn't happen."
But the 23-year-old gun pointed out this year wasn't the first time most of the club's players had experienced hardship at AFL level and that they had not forgotten how difficult success was to attain.
"When I first got to the club we had a pretty successful patch there and then we had a couple of years where we were really poor – in 2011 we only won seven games for the entire season," he said.
"There are plenty of players who have experienced their fair share of disappointment and consecutive losses.
"I think everyone's aware you have to work extremely hard for success."
While the solution to Adelaide's issues remain a mystery to the All Australian, he said the problem was clear.
"Every week everyone always wants to play better, whether they played well or not,” Dangerfield said.
“For us this year it's been a case of we just haven't had the same number of contributors playing their benchmark footy.
"Yes, it's a bit to do with some of our more experienced players, but equally the lesser experienced players as well."
The bye robbed the Crows of the opportunity to immediately respond after their loss to Richmond in round12, but they get the chance for speedy redemption against Collingwood on Friday night.
The blockbuster at the MCG has given Adelaide's players just six days to regroup from last weekend's last-minute loss to West Coast.
Dangerfield stopped short of labelling the swift turnaround an advantage after a tough loss, but there was no mistaking his excitement at playing on "football's grandest stage".
"We played some really good footy last weekend against West Coast but it's little five-minute lapses throughout the game that's costing us," he said.
"Against a side like Collingwood, we can't afford for that to happen.
"What we need is a really focused, four-quarter effort.
"There's no bigger stage, there's something special about playing footy at the MCG – you get that tingling in your spine as you walk out and look around."
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter; @AFL_Harry.
