CARETAKER coach Mark Bickley says there is "no satisfaction about losing", following Adelaide's narrow loss to premiership-contender Geelong at AAMI Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Crows fought gallantly against the in-form Cats and were within a kick after a Ricky Henderson goal at the 21-minute mark of the final term.

But a crucial goal moments later to Geelong substitute Shannon Byrnes, his second for the term, assured the Cats an 11-point victory and their fifth consecutive win.

Bickley said the brave performance of his players did not alleviate any disappointment associated with his first loss as interim coach.

"It's a very slippery slope when you start being satisfied with a loss," he said.

"A lot of people will want to pat our guys on the back after their efforts, and we need to be really careful.

"I recognise the energy and the effort that was put in by our players tonight. Yes it was probably an improvement on the previous two weeks, but there's still a lot of improvement that we can continue to make."

The Crows played with daring ball movement through the midfield and also denied Geelong space and time with incessant pressure on the Cats' ball carriers.

But Adelaide was unable to convert its midfield supremacy to the scoreboard.

"In terms of some of the statistics, we dominated the clearances, we had more inside 50s, but that [our conversion rate] was probably our downfall," Bickley said.

Adelaide registered 19 more clearances, 24 more contested possessions and five more inside 50s than Geelong, yet still failed to overrun the Cats.

Bickley said his players' lack of experience was the missing cog when the game was to be won.

"If you look at the profile of our side, I think we had 13 or 14 guys with 40 games or less, and I think they had the same number with 150 games or more.

"They've got a really experienced side and they've played a lot of finals football. When games are really tight, that's when you start to see that difference [in experience] come out.

"I think we just lacked a little bit of composure at times."

Adelaide's defence was left largely to inexperienced Crows Shaun McKernan and Daniel Talia, with All Australian full-buck Ben Rutten a late withdrawal due to illness.

Bickley praised the pair for their "competitive spirit" against a hardened Geelong forward line featuring James Podsiadly (two goals), Cam Mooney (one goal, three score assists) and Brad Ottens (one goal).

"I was really pleased with Shaun McKernan and Daniel Talia," said Bickley.

"[They're] really young guys playing in key position roles against experienced, mature-aged guys and they were outstanding; full credit to them to be able to stand up in that heat."

The Crows now face Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium next Saturday afternoon in a game that Bickley says will test the attitude and professionalism of the playing group.

"Next week will be a challenge for a whole different reason," he said.

"What will happen out of tonight [is] there will be some expectation. We will go into next week as favourite. That will be a new experience."

Max covers news from AAMI Stadium for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_MaxPhillips