Little things have caused Adelaide's big problem, according to onballer Bernie Vince.

The winless Crows will lodge their worst start to an AFL season if they lose to Port Adelaide on Saturday.

Vince has taken aim at Adelaide's portrayal as a joyless club, maintaining their predicament isn't due to an overly serious culture.

"I'm a bit sick of hearing that," Vince said on Tuesday.

"It's always talked about around in the media and stuff all the time, and that is not at all the way it is around the club.

"We love each other's company."

Coach Neil Craig's public image of a grim, methodical man belied his true personality, Vince said.

"Behind the scenes he is real easy to get along with," he said.

"He's actually quite funny and we enjoy his company as much as anyone else at the club.

"We are sort of a little bit sick of hearing that sort of talk."

Vince instead laid blame for Adelaide's five consecutive defeats on "little things" such as sloppy skills and slack contested ball efforts.

"We just need to tidy up the little things we are not doing well at the moment like easy skill errors, contested ball," he said.

"It's not just one area ... it's more so a few little areas that are all adding up."

Vince hoped the challenge of confronting arch rival Port Adelaide would spark Adelaide's season.

"The Showdowns are a tough contest and that is exactly what we need because it doesn't really matter where you are on the ladder or how you are going at the time, it seems to be always be tough game and normally pretty close," he said.

"Because it's such a big game, I think it can really build a bit of character amongst the group and when all the chips are down, it can bring the best out of some people."

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