Midfielder Rory Sloane says the Crows let a golden opportunity to continue their winning run slip after being overrun by Collingwood in the final quarter at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.

Adelaide led by six points at three-quarter time of the low-scoring affair, but was outscored five goals-to-none in the lopsided fourth term to eventually lose by 26 points.

After the game, Sloane lamented his team’s inability to halt the Magpies’ late surge.

“Our contested ball dropped off big time in the last quarter. Collingwood was a bit harder in the way they attacked the footy and it was disappointing we didn’t respond,” Sloane told afc.com.au.

“It was our effort (that fell away). Once they got on top, I think we went back into our shells a little bit and it was just far too easy in the end. It was always going to be a tough, hard game. It’s just disappointing we weren’t able to finish off a bit better.

“It’ll be good to get a response in the first quarter next week - that’s what we’ll be looking forward to, the first contest next week.”

The home team had its opportunities to kick away in the third quarter, winning the inside 50m count 13-8 for the term but failed to capitalise, kicking 2.5.

Both sides were inaccurate in front of goal, with a swirly breeze and slippery ball making goalkicking difficult.

“The wind was favouring one end a little bit. It was slippery and we probably didn’t handle the conditions well,” Sloane said.

“We were a bit fumbly and a few guys slipped over. For three quarters we were good, but in the last quarter we just let it slip. We probably missed a few opportunities going forward and they were just too good in the contested footy and probably around the clearances as well.”

A positive out of the match was the continued improvement of young defender Daniel Talia.

Nicknamed ‘Presti’ by his teammates after dour Collingwood great Simon Prestigiacomo, Talia kept Pies spearhead Chris Dawes goalless. He’s also claimed the scalps of Geelong forward James Podsiadly and emerging Swan Ben Reid in recent weeks.

Sanderson described Talia’s game against the Pies as “outstanding”, and Sloane agreed.

“Dan is going awesome,” Sloane said.

“He doesn’t get much of the ball himself, but he doesn’t let his opponent touch it either. He’s very strong and his one-on-one stuff is amazing. We love ‘Talz’ down there.”

The Crows reported no new injuries in Saturday night’s loss and will be bolstered by the return of leading goalkicker Taylor Walker, who has served a two-match ban for rough conduct, for their clash with Fremantle at Patersons Stadium on Sunday.

Coach Brenton Sanderson said it was important his side stayed positive leading into its last game before the mid-season break.

“We won’t get down on ourselves,” Sanderson said.

"We’ll pick ourselves up, review the game and get on next week pretty quickly because we’ve got a great challenge next week in Freo away. We got beaten by a better side tonight.”