Adelaide AFLW Senior Coach Matthew Clarke says his team’s inability to execute cost the side in a two-point loss to Melbourne on Wednesday night.
The Crows kicked just one goal and eight behinds from 32 inside 50s against the Demons, with the final score of 18 their lowest since Round Seven, 2021.
Speaking to the media post game, Clarke said it was a frustrating night and paid credit to the pressure Melbourne brought to the contest.
“(Kicking) 1.8 is frustrating and a bit disappointing, the effort was there but our execution was pretty shabby really across the whole game,” Clarke said.
“You could argue defensively we were pretty sound, holding them to just a couple of goals, but when you only kick one yourselves you aren’t going to win games at this level.
“While inaccuracy was an issue, we weren’t generating the quality of entry to give us an easy shot on goal, and up the field as well we struggled with our execution.
“Sometimes when you have that day you look inward, but you do need to pay due credit to your opponent, as they brought the pressure that forced us into those mistakes, so full credit to Melbourne.”
Adelaide finds itself in a compressed fixture period, playing three games in 10 days across weeks six and seven.
Clarke did not use fatigue as an excuse for the performance however, noting that his team’s effort and energy could not be questioned.
“No I wouldn’t (say that fatigue from the fixture was a factor in the result), I’d say we were a little slow and a touch reactive in that first quarter,” Clarke said.
“But after that, the energy, intensity around the ball and defensive pressure was all completely fine.
“It was just our execution that really let us down on the night, and credit to Melbourne as they brought a level of pressure that didn’t allow us to get that aspect of our game right.”
Clarke’s attention now turns to the Giants, who the Crows face in just four days time at Sydney’s Henson Park.
He said the focus leading into the clash would be to quickly “move on from that performance” against the Demons.
“It’s a really quick turnaround, going up to play the Giants in Sydney on Sunday, so we’ve got to use that time to recover really well and try as best we can to move on from that performance,” Clarke said.
“Clearly that (performance) was not at the level we want to put out there, to our fans that showed up, it was probably a tough watch.
“The reality of it now is we just need to get ready to go again, that’s the nature of the season.
“You’re going to have your moments where you are not at the level you want to be, and it’s about the resilience of the group to fight through that and bounce back.”
Adelaide faces Greater Western Sydney at Henson Park on Sunday, with the first bounce at 4.35pm (ACDT).
