Adelaide defender Brent Reilly says a lack of composure brought his team undone in Friday night’s 35-point loss to Essendon at AAMI Stadium.

The Crows kicked the first three goals of the game to skip to a 13-point lead at quarter-time, but were unable to sustain the effort. The Bombers upped their defensive pressure, forcing the home team into poor decisions and costly errors.

The Bombers then capitalised on Adelaide’s mistakes, scoring 10 of their 18 goals directly from Crows’ turnovers.

“We lacked composure with the footy. Their pressure was outstanding and we were rushed,” Reilly told afc.com.au after the game.

“We turned the ball over too much and they scored some easy goals from it. We need more composure from the guys without the ball too. We need them using their voice and not just leave it up to the bloke with the ball.

“We need to start playing together and helping each other out.”

Reilly collected 19 possessions in an under-siege Adelaide defence. Coach Brenton Sanderson praised the efforts of his key defenders, who held dangerous Essendon talls Michael Hurley, Stewart Crameri and Paddy Ryder to a solitary goal between them.

But smalls Ben Howlett (four goals) and Alwyn Davey (three goals) got under the Crows’ guard.

Davey kicked two of his goals after his direct opponent Luke Brown left the ground with a foot/ankle injury early in the third quarter. The extent of Brown’s injury is not yet known. Regardless, it’s an unlucky blow for the young backman, who stepped into the shoes of retired veteran Michael Doughty for the first official time on Friday night.

“Browny is a solid little defender and was doing an outstanding job on Alwyn Davey,” Reilly said.

“I don’t know how bad the injury is, but hopefully he doesn’t miss any weeks.”

Adelaide will now have to wait two weeks to make amends for a disappointing season-opener. The Crows will take on NAB Cup winners the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba next Saturday afternoon.

“It would be nice to play next week and rectify that performance, but we’ve got to sit on it for two weeks now.

“We need to go up to Brisbane, really respond and show everyone we can play some good footy.”