Though he is synonymous with bringing a new level of science and analysis to the AFL, Adelaide coach Neil Craig says it's possible to spend too much time studying past mistakes.

Following last week's surprisingly slack 50-point loss to West Coast, Craig did not spend much time at all looking into why the team had performed so poorly, reckoning that his players were mature enough to realise what was missing.

He is confident they will make sure they bring those absent ingredients for Friday night's AAMI Stadium match-up with Essendon.

"I didn't even go down that track (of why) because what happens then is I get so many different reasons and you can spend a lot of time on it," Craig said.

"While we're fulltime and you've got six or seven days to prepare, time can get away from you.

"You need to make sure, whilst there can be some disappointment, you've got to get rid of it really quickly so you can go into quality feedback about the next game, about good recovery and about good preparation on the training track.

"(We) rolled up there ready to play, but not ready to perform and there's a big difference.

"I dont know how it happens - its a fair and legitimate question, but if we wanted to, we could still be here talking to the players about what happened.

"What I'm more interested in, is what we're going to do about it and how we're going to respond."

Craig said the Crows were perhaps guilty of going missing mentally because of what on paper at least, looks a generous mid-season draw.

Prior to last week West Coast had won once in eight games, while next two opponents Essendon and Richmond are bottom eight material.

"You learn that it's so difficult to win in the AFL; you know that, but sometimes you need that jolt just to reaffirm it," he said.

"With all due respect, you guys (media) last week were talking 9-2 because we were going to beat Melbourne, beat West Coast, beat Essendon and beat Richmond.

"We understand why you would think that based on form, but when you work internally at the coalface you have a real appreciation of how difficult it is to win in this competition.

"If you slip up in any area or any side beats you convincingly in one area, like contested ball, you just can't afford that.

"Most of that's driven by the mentality. That's what drives your actions. That's what drives the contested ball, the concentration and decision-making.

"It's a skill and it's part of having what I call real talent. It's not just about your ability to kick the ball, it's about the whole package and in that particular game we were very poor.

"Absolutely I'm confident the group will bounce back, but that's talking about it.

"I'm more interested in what we do, not what we say."

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