Bernie Vince says the Crows have been left to rue what might’ve been after a wasteful display in the Second Qualifying Final against Sydney at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.

Adelaide finished the match with 22 more inside 50ms and an extra scoring shot but was unable to capitalise on the scoreboard, kicking 5.12 (42) to record its lowest score of the year. The Crows forwards weren’t helped by shallow and haphazard entries into attack.

On the other hand, the efficient Swans generated 16 scoring shots from just 37 inside 50ms to secure a comfortable 29-point win and book a home preliminary final.

“It’s just very disappointing. We were a big chance to have a home prelim so it’s a pretty average feeling,” Vince told afc.com.au after the game.

“That’s pretty much where we lost it. Sydney used their ‘plus one’ pretty well and we played into their hands a bit. We had a lot of inside 50ms, but we just didn’t use the ball very well.

“If we’d used the ball better earlier going inside 50m, it might’ve been a different result but it wasn’t to be.”

Adelaide narrowly lost the contested possessions (149-146), and the Swans also started to get on top at the clearances in the last quarter to win that area (42-33). But most damaging was Sydney’s outside run, with livewires Adam Goodes (22 possessions and three goals), Lewis Jetta (two goals) and Ryan O’Keefe (37 disposals) able to get on the end of Josh Kennedy and Dan Hannebery’s strong inside work.

The Crows struggled to generate any offensive run and carry and overpossessed the ball under pressure.

“They’ve got some guys with real pace on the outside,” Vince said.

“Adam Goodes and Lewis Jetta had pretty good games. I thought our contested ball stuff and work at the clearances was okay, but they spread a lot better.”

Adelaide now has six days to regroup before a cutthroat final against either Geelong or Fremantle at AAMI Stadium on Friday night. The Crows will be without NAB Rising Star winner Daniel Talia, who sustained a broken right forearm in the loss to Sydney.

Vince said it was important his side responded next week.

 “Daniel Talia is a massive loss for us. But we can’t do much about that now, and it gives someone else a chance,” he said.

“We need to stick together as a group and not go away from the things that have won us games throughout the year.”