Adelaide coach Don Pyke says losing control at contests played a significant part in his side's loss to Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night.

Speaking to media post-game, the Crows coach said he was pleased with the first quarter, but felt his players lost their way in the second.

"The end of that second quarter, I thought we lost our way a bit in the contest and then gave up field position," Pyke said.

"The story in the second half was probably similar.

"I think the contest numbers were a bit more even but we lost critical contests and lost field position, and in the third quarter, clearances became an issue.

"From then, we were on the back foot."

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Rory Sloane, along with Matt and Brad Crouch, had been so influential, while Reilly O'Brien was having a significant impact.

Geelong didn't wilt though. Led by champion Joel Selwood and Tim Kelly, with Mitch Duncan, Cam Guthrie and Jordan Clark also crucial, the Cats turned it around and didn't lose control from there.

"Our guys were probably guilty of getting too many to the contest and we didn't hold balance as well as we would have liked," Pyke said.

"We felt like we were bees to a honeypot at times, versus being able to hold on the outside. When we didn't get it done on the inside, that ball spilt out and put pressure on our backs and cost us field position."

Pyke said he would take a closer look at Bryce Gibbs' performance.

"Statistically it wasn't big numbers from Bryce so I'd probably need to have a look at it in more detail to form a full opinion on it," Pyke said.

Crows co-captain Taylor Walker looked dangerous early but a ligament strain in an elbow caused discomfort.

However, Pyke said he expected his co-captain to front up for next Saturday's Showdown against Port Adelaide.

"We'd have to see how it settles down. I haven't really spoken to him in detail about how they'd assess that but he seemed, after the game, confident. Obviously it wasn't ideal but we'd expect him to be all right," Pyke said.