Adelaide leaves the field after its round three loss to Gold Coast. Picture: AFL Photos

ADELAIDE defender Daniel Talia says the current Crows side is the most "uncompetitive" in his time at the club.

The 2012 NAB AFL Rising Star winner and 189-gamer said the Crows' winless start to 2020, which has included back-to-back thrashings at the hands of Port Adelaide and Gold Coast, has highlighted key problems with their mindset and approach.

Following Sunday's 53-point drubbing at Metricon Stadium to last year's wooden-spooners, the 28-year-old said more had to be done by Adelaide's senior players.

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"I don't think I've been in a team that's been this non-competitive, so that's to put it simply," he said on Monday.

"As an older guy and senior guy, when you're not playing as well as you could be, you really take that to heart. Be under no illusions, the playing group is really hurting.

"It's not like we're going out there and not trying on purpose, we're just not putting it out there and that burns us. We need to get better as a whole group and it starts with the old guys and that's what we said last night.

You can’t play on your reputation forever

- Daniel Talia

"When you've got your 10 best players not playing well, you can't expect the young blokes to come in and carry the side. We're under no illusions, we need to get better and we're a while off the mark."

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The Crows had a deep debrief following the defeat, with at least two more games to come while stationed at the Gold Coast hub.

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Talia, who debuted in 2011, pointed to Adelaide's poor starts as an indicator of a mindset issue heading into games.

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"We didn't come out with the right hunger to compete which is disturbing because it's been a trend the last five weeks. We addressed that last night, we know it's there, we're not hiding away from that fact, we just have to get better," he said.

However, the Crows stalwart said off-field distractions, such as club director Mark Riccuito's Twitter tangle with former Crow-turned-Sun Hugh Greenwood, was having no bearing on their performance.

"That's got nothing to do with us. We're so far off the mark with our footy that the off-field stuff is for the board and everything else to deal with," Talia said.

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"As players we've got bigger issues at the moment. We're not coming to play our role and that’s our job."

The Crows will face premiership hopefuls Brisbane on Sunday at the Gabba, and Talia said the senior players will need to improve to keep their spots in the side.  

"That was part of the conversation last night. You can have a name but if you’re not putting it out there and playing a role for the team well, you can’t play on your reputation forever," he said.

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