A FIRED-UP Taylor Walker says the Crows can kiss their season goodbye if they don't address their deficiencies, but has refused to point the finger at his midfield teammates.
After winning six straight games to start the season, the Crows have lost three of their past five – most recently a 22-point defeat to Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Friday night.
"At this stage, we're not at the level," the Crows skipper told reporters on Monday.
"When we get challenged, we need to bounce back and puff the chest out and put it back in the opposition's face and win our fair share and play it on our terms.
"It's just disappointing we can't do it when we're challenged.
"I'm super confident the resilience in this group will be able to get through it."
The Crows (8-3) are second on the ladder ahead of Friday night's clash with St Kilda at Adelaide Oval.
They are still the top-ranked team in the competition in contested possessions, but were ruthlessly exposed in that department by the Cats.
Walker took exception to any suggestion the Crows' midfield was the reason for their poor performances in recent weeks.
"I'm not going to sit here and say it's our midfield," Walker said.
"It's across the board, it's every single player who plays.
"Our contested side of things needs to improve.
"We need to make it habitual and drum it into with everyone that plays at our footy club that you can't pick and choose when you play at the level in your effort and intent."
Walker has also copped plenty of criticism for his own performances during the first 11 rounds of the competition.
The skipper has kicked 28 goals from 10 games to date, with his worst return of one goal coming in disappointing losses to North Melbourne and Fremantle.
"People get paid for their opinions and it doesn't bother me," he said.
"I can get better, no doubt about it.
"I'm working my absolute butt off to get to the level that I wanted.
"I'll continue to do that with my forwards coach and hopefully things will fall my way soon.
"The pleasing thing is, I'm probably not at the level I want to be at, but our team has been able to win with me not doing that, so I'll continue to work hard."
Walker was confident defender Jake Lever would be cleared to play the Saints after going off in the final quarter of the loss to the Cats with an ankle injury.
The Cats have the wood over the Crows, winning 13 of the past 16 clashes including the past five, but Walker believes his side can turn the tables when they face off again in round 18.
"There's some other things (apart from winning the contested ball) that we'll touch off on later in the week, but I won't share that with you," he said.
"Put it this way, next time we play them, I'm confident you'll see the difference."
