ADELAIDE welcomed back experienced, big-name players Jason Porplyzia and Brett Burton to bolster its struggling forward line for the clash with the Sydney Swans, but it was two 20-year-olds who kept the Crows in the game on Sunday.

With star trio Porplyzia, Burton and Kurt Tippett kicking just one goal between them, it was left to talented youngsters Patrick Dangerfield and Jared Petrenko to put the scoreboard pressure on the Swans.

Petrenko showed courage to return to the field and boot two second-quarter goals after being knocked out early in the game, while Dangerfield’s presence in the second half drew comparisons to the man who wore the no.32 before him - Brownlow medallist Mark Ricciuto.

Dangerfield had just eight touches to his name at half time and the Crows had just four goals, so coach Neil Craig made the decision to put the first-round draft pick in the goal square with Swans defender Nick Malceski.

The former Geelong Falcon, who turned 20 on Monday, showed maturity beyond his 25 games to finish with a career-best return of 5.1.

Craig was full of praise for Dangerfield after the game, but the promising midfielder was level headed when asked to rate his own performance.

“I was pretty disappointed with my first half when I was playing in the midfield. We talk about contested footy and that’s something I pride myself on, but I was really poor in that area in the first half,” Dangerfield said.

“Luckily, I was able to go forward and kick a few goals in the second half, which was good.”

Dangerfield wasn’t the only Crow that struggled to win the contested ball, with the Swans finishing on top in that category, 119-101.

The fearless Victorian said it was disappointing his side had lost the contested possession in consecutive weeks.

“We set ourselves for a big game after the performance against Fremantle, but that effort today clearly wasn’t up to scratch and it’s cost us again,” he said.

“It’s got nothing to do with the guys we’ve got missing out of the side. It comes down to our mindset and approach. We’ve got to set ourselves to put our bodies on the line and commit to the hard ball.

“Collectively we just didn’t do that well and if you don’t do that these days this game will tear you apart, especially against a side like Sydney.”