ADELAIDE assistant coach Ben Hart says accusations the team played 'bruise-free' footy in the first quarter of its 47-point loss to North Melbourne last weekend are "fair".

The term 'bruise-free' was coined, and leveled at Melbourne following the club's lacklustre performance against Carlton in round 10.

The Demons shook the unflattering tag with a determined win over Essendon last week, but the term was picked up and re-assigned to the Crows after their uncompetitive start against the Kangaroos.  

The Roos were first to the ball on Sunday, dominating the clearances 22-3 in the first term to establish a 24-point lead at quarter-time.

The hefty loss to North Melbourne followed an equally disappointing defeat at the hands of the Brisbane Lions at home the week prior.

Hart challenged his team to play with greater "intent" and apply more pressure to West Coast from the opening bounce in the clash between the two teams at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.

"You would've thought after the week before against Brisbane that in the first quarter [against North Melbourne] the response we were looking for, and what we didn't play with against Brisbane, would've been there on show," he said on Wednesday.

"To have 18 stoppages in a game of footy before you win a clearance is not on...and it's an attitude problem that needs to be fixed straight away.

"From what we've seen this week on the training track and in meetings, you'd say that's been fixed up, but we want to walk the walk and not just talk the talk."

The nature of Adelaide's past two losses prompted chief executive Steven Trigg to -not for the first time this season - come out publicly in support of embattled coach Neil Craig.

Trigg said the club wouldn't act brashly and end Craig's seven-year tenure mid-season.

He also made a point of saying all six members of the Crows' coaching staff were under pressure to perform.

Hart said it was only fair the assistant coaches were apportioned some of the blame.

"It's not the Neil Craig Footy Club," Hart said.

"Neil is the face of the coaching group, but we [assistant coaches] have as much say in how we operate down here as he does.

"When you're having performances like we've had over the last couple of weeks, you do [feel the heat] and you should because it's not acceptable, but we don't just sit here and think it's going to turn.

"There's a lot of hard work going on from assistant coaches, from players and everyone across the board to right the ship and from where we're standing it's got to happen pretty soon."

Hart was also forced to respond to renewed speculation out-of-contract forward Taylor Walker was poised to join Greater Western Sydney next season.

Player agent Paul Connors told the Herald Sun he expected both Walker and Fremante midfielder Rhys Palmer to be at GWS in 2012.

"At the moment, Taylor is a player with the Adelaide footy club- that's how I see him and hopefully that's how he sees himself," Hart said.

"He's an important part of what we're trying to do and where we're trying to go. He's got a future here, but if he decides to go somewhere else, he's probably got a future there as well."

Young midfielder Brodie Smith failed to train on Wednesday and will miss a second straight week with a hip complaint.

Rookie-listed forward Ian Callinan also missed the session because of an infected toe, but is still expected to make his long-awaited return from a bicep injury with Central District in the SANFL this weekend.

The in-form Eagles are sweating on the fitness of premiership player Daniel Kerr (glute) and emerging onballer Luke Shuey (corked thigh) ahead of their second trip to AAMI Stadium this season.

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