ADELAIDE coach Neil Craig has admitted he doesn't know if he will retain his coaching position at the club next year, or if he even wants it.

The besieged Crows coach, who witnessed what he described as the team's worst performance for the season on Friday night at Etihad Stadium, said he would take the remainder of the season to assess his own position.

He also urged the club's board to take the same amount of time to weigh up his future, which was cast into the spotlight again in the wake of the Crows' 103-point loss to St Kilda.

"I don't know that [I'll coach the Crows next year]. I think the next six weeks are really important, and if I did [know], I'd tell you. That's my absolute honest answer," he told 3AW.

"It's a two-way thing. It's important for me to continue that I want to do it, absolutely, and I have to make that decision.

"I will certainly use the next six weeks to be really firm and clear on that decision, as the club will use the next six weeks to do that as well."

Craig was asked if, as the dust settled on the horrendous loss where the Crows kicked just three goals, he felt he could still contribute to the current list.

He again threw his support behind his players, but admitted he wasn't yet prepared to ask himself that question. 

"It's a fair question to ask. I still have great belief in this playing group. I think they are going to be a very, very good playing group," he said.

"To be honest, just at the moment I don't really feel like asking myself that question."

Craig said he was prepared to initiate discussions with club CEO Steven Trigg and chairman Rob Chapman as soon as this week.

"That's a really, open, candid, unconditional relationship and the communication lines are there with both those gentlemen, as well as the board," he said.

"I meet with the board every month in most situations.

"The dialogue we have is very open, very candid, and it has to be because the position of a senior coach at any football club is far too important for that relationship not to exist, because then you make really poor decisions."

Meanwhile, young Adelaide star Patrick Dangerfield has leapt to the defence of Craig.

Dangerfield told SEN Craig still has the support of the playing group and has backed him to hold his position.

"I still strongly believe he is the man to lead us in the coming years," Dangerfield said.

"I would love to see him coach next season."

Dangerfield, whose contract expires at the end of 2012, said Craig was the right man to take the club forward.

"It’s been an incredibly tough year for him because we haven’t been able to execute as a team the game plan that he’s implemented," he said.

"My relationship with him is very strong and I think that’s what you want from a senior coach and that’s a big decision you make in re-signing.

"Having said that, if Neil wasn’t here at the end of the year I wouldn’t leave because of that."

The 21-year-old said those outside the club may not be aware of Craig's attributes.

"He’s a brilliant communicator," he said.

"I don’t think that people outside the club, including the supporters, see that enough.

"I don’t think enough people appreciate that and I have no doubt that other players feel very similar because he is a terrific leader of the club."