FOR TWO consecutive weeks midfielder Scott Thompson has clearly been Adelaide's best player.

Thompson has accumulated 72 possessions, 12 inside 50s, 12 clearances and one goal in the games against Fremantle and Port Adelaide, and has also laid 24 tackles - eight more than any other Crows player.

However, the nature of the club's losses to the Power and Freo have taken the shine off what is, arguably, career-best form from the 28-year-old.

Thompson was one of only five Adelaide players aged over 25 years in Showdown XXX at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.

He was praised for trying to lift - and even carry - his team, but coach Neil Craig said the club's senior players hadn't received enough support from their less-experienced teammates.

"It becomes a weight of numbers and about people sharing the workload," Craig said after the game.

"We can do it for a short period of time and do it at a very good standard, but the capacity to keep going and maintaining drops away.

"That's when your senior players need more help. We need to be demanding for those guys to keep their standards high and be more demanding on the guys, who are still trying to break into AFL football."

Thompson was one of few Adelaide players to put in a four-quarter performance against Port.

The Crows started strongly, keeping the Power goalless in the opening term to lead by 27 points at the first change.

However, they were unable to maintain the effort and were blown away by eight goals-to two after half-time.

"It's very frustrating and disappointing because we've showed that when the contested side of our game is at the level we can really hurt sides and when we get it right for four quarters we're going to be a good side," Thompson said.

"Unfortunately, we're not doing that yet and when our [contested work] falls away we're letting opposition teams back into the game."

The Crows' season, which started so promisingly against Hawthorn in round one, is now precariously placed, with games against an in-form Carlton and last year's grand finalist St Kilda to come.

The club hopes to regain defenders Scott Stevens, Michael Doughty and Richard Tambling for the clash with the Blues and Thompson said it was important his team got its season back on track.

"It's still very early in the season, but it's a big game next week," he said.

"We need to get the group up and going again, but we'll stick to our game plan and hopefully come away with a good four-quarter performance."

Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill