Adelaide AFLW Senior Coach Matthew Clarke says his side has learnt a “sharp lesson” after going down to the Bulldogs by one point on Sunday.  

The Crows fought back in a frenzied final term after conceding three goals in the first five minutes of the game but couldn’t finish the job at Norwood Oval. 

Clarke said the Crows’ intensity was lacking in the opening term which let them down on the scoreboard despite a desperate comeback effort.

“The Bulldogs played at a really high level,” Clarke said. 

“I thought their intensity and sharpness in the first five was superior to ours.

“Their system and method and ability to cover defensively and then when they went long, we didn't handle that well either, so well done to them. We learned some lessons today.

 “After that, I thought we still generated opportunity, probably at about the same level as we have done. We are still working on that but clearly the start was just poor… from there, we were chasing.

“It probably took us a little while to settle back and at that point we were chasing the game and you are putting yourself under pressure.”

Clarke said while the loss was a “costly lesson”, it was a good reminder to the team of just how close the competition was in the 10-round season.

“Ultimately every game that we’ve played thus far, even though we’ve had some comfortable victories, has been really tough,” Clarke said. 

“We came here today expecting another tough game but clearly we weren’t sharp in those first five minutes, so that is a lesson learned.

“But everyone can have a moment and a day when those things happen. I reckon they’ll learn from it.”

Adelaide is set to take on GWS at Henson Park (NSW) in Round Seven on Saturday, February 19.