ADELAIDE's Ian Callinan is confident the Crows can rebound quickly after Saturday night's shock 10-point loss to the Brisbane Lions, a defeat he labelled the club's worst of the year.

Last Wednesday coach Brenton Sanderson warned his side against facing the Lions with "fat heads" or risk being embarrassed and, after leading by 38 points at quarter time, Adelaide was indeed left red faced.

A win would have almost certainly tied up their first minor premiership since 2005, but with spots two to four all now locked on 15 wins, a home qualifying final is far from assured.

Callinan rejected claims the Crows took their foot off the pedal early in the game last Saturday night, but he conceded the loss was a "wake-up call".

Adelaide takes on Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday and the 29-year-old said the side would bounce back.

"We had a look at the tape and we just fell away in some areas that we really pride ourselves on … contested possession, uncontested possession was well down," Callinan said.

"I'd rather it happen now than in three weeks … we really need to bounce back this week and it's probably a wakeup call for us.

"You have those days, but it's obviously been our worst performance for the year and we need to rectify it this week."

The loss was soured on Monday with news the club's physical performance manager Stephen Schwerdt had accepted a position with Gold Coast in 2013.

Schwerdt had held the position at West Lakes since 1999, having spent three seasons (1992-94) on Adelaide's playing list.

Callinan said he was a much-loved character at the club and that, while the players would be sad to see him leave, his departure could have a silver lining.

"He's a great guy … he's been there 20 years he probably feels he needs a change and it'd probably work out well for both of us," Callinan said.

"Someone new coming in, we've seen this year what [that's] done for the playing group."

With mounting speculation that star forward Kurt Tippett will also leave the Crows for a Queensland club, Schwerdt's departure came at coincidental timing.

Callinan said Tippett was the only one who could say whether he planned on joining Schwerdt in the Sunshine State, but with the club mutually deciding to suspend the forward's negotiations until post-season, the signs are beginning to point to the affirmative.

Adelaide admitted it had offered Tippett "an exceptional offer" that he had refused, with club legend Mark Ricciuto claiming it was a five-year deal worth $650,000 a season.

"The Adelaide Football Club had an exceptional offer in front of Kurt - and Kurt and his management acknowledge this - but Kurt has made it clear he will not make any decision until the season is finished," Crows football manager Phil Harper said in a club statement on Monday.

Harry Thring covers Adelaide news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.