ADELAIDE coach Phil Walsh demanded 'Formula One' football against Hawthorn but he didn't get it from his players on Thursday night.

During the week Walsh predicted the only way to beat the Hawks was through brave and fast ball movement, so he was understandably frustrated at the Crows' conservative nature during the 29-point loss at Adelaide Oval.

Ultimately the side's skill level prevented it from playing in the manner sought by Walsh.

After the match, the coach insisted skills would continue to be a focus at training.

"We're going to work really hard and I'm still going to encourage them to take those kicks because if you don’t, as you saw against Hawthorn, I got frustrated tonight that too many times we just kicked long down the line and played safe footy," Walsh said.

"That's not going to cut it - that's not going to allow you to kick 100 points against Hawthorn."

Walsh thought the Crows were lucky to still be in the hunt at quarter-time, but it was their final term that upset him the most.

The Crows wrestled back the momentum in the third quarter and even took the lead through Rory Laird, only for the Hawks to hit back and then seal the win with four goals to one in the last.

"I think we actually dodged a bullet in the first quarter, I think the entries were four to 12 at one stage," he said.

"We were a bit lucky to still be in the game at quarter-time.

"Just the last quarter really disappointed me.

"I thought we fought our way back into the game, hit the front in the third quarter, 50,000 of our fans turned out to see us and (the) last quarter was extremely disappointing."

The possibility of winning literally took a hit in the second term when skipper Taylor Walker suffered a corked thigh in a bump from Hawk Sam Mitchell.

Walker struggled to continue but as the game progressed his corkie tightened and he was forced from the field for good in the third quarter.

It didn't decide the game, but Walsh admitted it dented Adelaide's chance of pulling off the upset.

"When Walker went out it just probably left us not quite as potent in our forward half," he said.

"We thought we'd give him a chance, so we gave him one go in the third quarter and he actually competed and later on in that quarter he really couldn't apply any pressure or chase.

"That was it – as the captain of the club he was really disappointed but he just couldn't go."