CROWS coach Neil Craig stuck to a habit of not addressing his players after the game on Saturday night and no words were really needed as the visibly dejected players filtered out of the Adelaide change rooms after their narrow loss to the Hawks.

Craig, at his post-match press conference, lamented the crucial execution errors, namely goal kicking, that had cost his team victory over the league leaders.

The Crows, for the sixth time this season, finished with more behinds than goals.

The final scoreboard showed Adelaide 10.12; not as inaccurate as some of the home side’s recent scores, but in a tight, low scoring affair, the two extra behinds proved the difference between winning and losing.

Skipper Simon Goodwin’s miss, while running into an open goal early in the final quarter, is one that will be highlighted because of its timing. But there were other costly misses, particularly in the first quarter when Adelaide dominated the opening ten minutes, but managed only 2.2.

Goodwin, usually one of the more reliable kicks in the Adelaide line-up, missed the chance to put his side nine points ahead in the final term. In the dying minutes, at the other end of the ground, Hawks vice-captain Luke Hodge showed composure to side-step an opponent before piercing the middle and handing Hawthorn its unassailable lead.

“It was very disappointing and the boys are shattered, as they should be,” Goodwin said after the game.

“We won a lot of areas of the game, but lost on the scoreboard. There were some missed shots on goal, I know I missed one and there were a couple of others early on, and a few little things in the game that really cost us.

“There were some little instances in the game where you look back and think what could’ve been, but Hawthorn is a quality side and we were happy with the way we performed.

“We just couldn’t get the result we wanted and we’ll have to bounce back pretty quick next week.”

The brave Crows dominated the disposals, hit-outs and clearances. Opposition coaches will play close attention to the way Adelaide flooded its defensive 50m and held Hawthorn to its lowest score of the season (11.10).

Potential All-Australian centre-half back Nathan Bock held Lance Franklin to a solitary goal from his seven, predominantly wide, scoring shots and Scott Thompson, Tyson Edwards and Jason Porplyzia were superb in the middle and up forward.

“We had some really good players on the night and we won a lot of key areas including the contested ball and the stoppages. The back six played really well and we just didn’t score enough goals in the end,” Goodwin said.

“Tonight’s game shows that we can be competitive with the best teams in the competition on any given day. That’s what we can take out of the game.

“We just have to make sure that, from now on, when we’re in that position, that we actually win on the scoreboard.”

There was some good news for the Crows on Sunday morning with 199-gamer Nathan Bassett cleared of any structural damage after being taken to hospital for precautionary scans on his neck.

He will face a fitness test ahead of Adelaide’s clash with the Brisbane Lions in Queensland next weekend, as will Brent Reilly, who withdrew before Saturday’s game with an adductor strain.

Brad Symes (ankle) and Kris Massie (hamstring) are a chance to return from their respective injuries.

Goodwin was hopeful the bitter taste of the narrow loss to Hawthorn would inspire his players at the Gabba next Saturday night.

“Obviously, going up to Brisbane to play Brisbane is always tough. We’ve got a pretty good record up there though and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

“Hopefully after a loss like that it will spur us into a good performance next weekend.”