Something is needed to lift a battling Adelaide - but Crows coach Neil Craig has ruled out using Andrew McLeod's looming milestone as motivation.

Craig looks more likely to use the threat of the selection axe to spark his side after the Crows suffered their third straight loss.

The Adelaide mentor lamented his side's lack of fight after they let a 25-point first half lead turn into a 36-point loss against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night.

He is scratching his head looking for ways to instil a "strong-willed, fighting approach".

However, Craig is not tempted to use McLeod as inspiration ahead of Saturday's crunch clash with Carlton at AAMI Stadium.

Dual premiership player McLeod, 32, will pass Mark Ricciuto's club record of 312 games against the Blues - yet another milestone in a glittering career that began way back in 1995.

But Craig won't be relying on pure emotion to fire up a team that is trying to keep their top eight dream alive after slumping to a 3-5 record.

"That will be recognised as it should be recognised - he has been a fantastic player for our club," Craig said.

"But we have never been big on promoting it as 'let's do it for Mark Ricciuto' or whatever.

"If you go down that path, well, have a look at the results in the past - you will fall flat on your face.

"For us to get our next win will very much be a team effort."

But the make-up of that team is up in the air.

Craig appeared to have lost patience with his side, calling on them to get "harder mentally".

He was shaking his head after the Crows dominated the first half, only to lead by 10 points at the main break.

They were then "found wanting" when the Lions applied the blow torch by kicking seven of the third term's nine goals.

"We've got to be prepared to stay in the fight for longer," Craig said.

"We've got to have the mentality that if it goes down to the last minute we will get it done - and right now we can't do that."

Asked if he would make changes, Craig said: "That needs to be considered.

"We all get assessed, that's the business we are in - and it will be no different for our playing group.

"That's not a threat but we need to look at all that.

"I haven't had a report yet from SAFL but there are some brand new players that we can push up if their form is good enough."

Several of Adelaide's young forwards, including Patrick Dangerfield, Taylor Walker and Richard Douglas, may have some nervous moments ahead of the Blues clash.

"We expect more of them than some of the stuff we saw (on Saturday night)," Craig said.

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