Far from panicking after throwing away a five goal lead to lose to the Western Bulldogs by seven points at the MCG on Saturday, Clarke said the past month had been a "reality check" for the club and would hold it in good stead in September.
"We would rather have won (the past four games) but we have just got to keep a bit of perspective," Clarke said.
"There is still two weeks of the minor round to go and then the real stuff (the finals) starts."
"And we will be judged on how we go in that arena rather than what we have done in the past four weeks."
The Crows were almost at odds on to win the premiership after 14 wins in the first 16 rounds but now are in danger of not even finishing on top at the end of the home and away season after losses to West Coast, Fremantle and the Bulldogs in the past month.
Their only win in that time has been a lucky four point win over Collingwood in round 18 in a game in which they kicked just seven goals.
But with a top two spot having been sewn up weeks ago, Clarke admits the players may have sub-consciously taken their foot off the pedal and begun to focus on the finals too early.
But he said with just two games left before the finals to recapture their best form, Clarke said now was the time for the team to regain its focus.
"Four weeks ago we probably thought we were a bit bullet proof," he said.
"This has been a bit of a reality check in that it makes you realise you have got to do a lot of things right to win a footy game and maybe that is a good thing."
