COACH Neil Craig has blamed a lack of consistency for Adelaide's disappointing 25-point loss to Fremantle at AAMI Stadium, saying his side lacks the "hardness" to match it with the more seasoned teams in the competition.

The Crows' spirited win over Hawthorn in round one prompted calls they were destined for a top-eight - or even top-four - finish this season.

However, doubts over the club's ability to challenge for a finals berth were raised when it failed to replicate that performance against Fremantle on Saturday.

Adelaide managed only two goals in a lacklustre first half and trailed by 32 points at the main change.

The home side responded to outscore Fremantle in the second half, but never threatened to take the lead.

Craig said the result was an example of what can happen when a team doesn't take the right attitude into a game.

"Coming off our performance against Hawthorn where there was great commitment to the contest for the full night … our supporters would be shaking their heads today," Craig said.

"It's just a lack of consistency at the moment in that [competitive] area of the game. You won't play 22 games up at the highest level … but we certainly don't want to put that first-half performance on the board.

"We're not a hardened, professional side yet. Your hardened professionals in any elite sport are able to come up week in and week out with a fierce determination and we're still learning that as a squad.

"We need to keep the standard high and it will come."

The Crows were forced to make four changes to the team that beat Hawthorn, despite having two weeks to recover from the game because of an early-season bye.

Jason Porplyzia (shoulder), David Mackay (shoulder), Rory Sloane (jaw/thumb) and Michael Doughty (corked thigh) all sustained injuries in round one.

Phil Davis (shoulder) and Richard Douglas (hip) joined the casualty list during the clash with Fremantle, but Craig refused to blame the mounting injury toll for his side's inconsistent effort

"Our depth at some stage is going to run out. We just have to see what we get out of today, but we went through it [an injury crisis] last year," he said.

"I'm not interested in the injuries … they have an effect on you … but they don't excuse what we served up today. We played some of our best football last year when we were at our lowest personnel-wise.

"We showed our cards [late last year], so that standard stays. Our responsibility is to try and reach it again."

The Crows are also sweating on the availability of ruckman Ivan Maric, who was reported for engaging in rough conduct against Fremantle forward Michael Walters in the last quarter.