ADELAIDE coach Neil Craig has declared he wants to remain in the job long-term, saying the "huge pressure" on him to deliver results hasn't detracted from his passion for coaching.

Pressure has been mounting on Craig since the injury-hit Crows failed to make the final eight for the first time in his six-year tenure last season.

The club maintained its mantra of 'high expectations' this season, despite losing more than 1,000 games of experience through the retirements of champions Andrew McLeod, Simon Goodwin, Tyson Edwards and Brett Burton, and the loss of All Australian defender Nathan Bock to Gold Coast.

However, Adelaide has failed to produce on a regular basis again in 2011, managing only three wins from nine games to sit in 13th place on the AFL ladder.

The Crows have also recorded two of their worst losses under Craig this season, going down to Melbourne by 96 points at the MCG in round seven and to the last-placed Brisbane Lions by 40 points at home last weekend.

Some supporters voiced their frustration after the loss to the Lions, criticising Craig as he made his way across the ground from the coach's box to the rooms.

Earlier this year, Craig and the Crows reached an agreement that saw the club's longest-serving coach become a permanent member of staff.

His contract was ripped up, allowing either party to terminate the arrangement with the "flick of a pen", but Craig said he had no intention of leaving anytime soon.

"I think this group is going to go a long way. Can I guarantee a Grand Final? No, of course I can't, but I think they're going to be a very successful playing group and I want to coach them as long as I can with the way I feel at the moment," Craig said on Thursday.

"It's important for the club to know that, but as [St Kilda coach] Ross Lyon mentioned a few weeks ago, boards make the appointment of coaches [not coaches].

"If you're asking this side of the ledger, I've never enjoyed coaching more. I love it.

"Is there pressure? Absolutely, there is. Huge pressure, but there always has been at this club from day one.

"The club has been really supportive of me. Of course, they want reasons and answers to where we're going, but in the end...it will be the board that makes the decision."

The players have jumped to the defence of Craig in recent weeks, describing criticism of him as 'unfair' and 'undeserved'.

Craig said he understood the criticism from supporters, who have become increasingly impatient as a result of the club's yo-yoing form this season.

"The frustration occurs because you see such a high standard for a week, like against Hawthorn [in round one], against St Kilda [in round six] and against Collingwood for three quarters [in round nine], and then you don't see that standard again for another two weeks," he said.

"It creates frustration for everyone, but what I do know is I want to know how we get more of the good stuff because it doesn't happen by fluke."

The Crows will make at least four changes to the team that lost to the Lions.

Taylor Walker (knee) and Brodie Smith (hip) will miss through injury, while Shaun McKernan and Myke Cook have been omitted.

Bernie Vince and forward Jack Gunston have been recalled to the team, leaving Brad Moran, Ivan Maric, Andy Otten, Chris Schmidt and Brad Symes in contention for the remaining two spots.

Rookie-listed forward Ian Callinan will wait another week before making his return from a bicep injury with Central District in the SANFL.

Craig dismissed injury concerns over Patrick Dangerfield, saying the explosive onballer simply had a "poor day" in his six-possession game against the Lions.

He also denied fresh claims utility Scott Stevens, who is suffering from post-concussion syndrome, was poised to retire.

Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill