ADELAIDE prides itself on defensive pressure, but the Crows are also more than willing to engage in all-out attack.

The top of the table Crows booted 24 goals in their 65-point thumping of Essendon at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night to remain unbeaten after four rounds.

"A shootout is not something you want to play every week," Crows defender Brodie Smith told AFL.com.au.

"We've got a strong focus on being a good defensive team, but it suits the way we play when we turn it over and go quick and we're able to slingshot it back the other way.

"We know when we get the ball to the outside, we've been really dangerous this year.

"It was a focus for us to get the ball to the outside and try and move it through them as quickly as possible.

"A bit more pressure on opposition teams is the room for improvement going forward."

Smith was busy across half-back, racking up 33 possessions, while fellow defender Rory Laird was also outstanding with 34 disposals.

After slow starts in their first games of the season, the Crows blew the Bombers out of the water to lead by 52 points at half-time.

But the Bombers had the better of the third quarter and only inaccurate kicking kept the Crows out of reach.

"They kicked 3.7, so if they took their chances it would've been a different story," Smith said.

"It's an area we need to work on – we can't have a lapse for a whole quarter.

"If we feel it for five or 10 minutes, we need to turn it around rather than have it for a whole quarter."

It's the first time the Crows have won their first four games of a season since 1996, but they aren't getting ahead of themselves after a month featuring wins against Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and the Bombers.

"It's been a pretty tough start to the year," Smith said.

"To come out of it 4-0 and to be playing some good footy is really pleasing."

The Crows will now turn their focus to their game against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.*