Adelaide are on a mission to win back the respect of the AFL, coach Neil Craig says.

Craig has no doubt the Crows' reputation has been tarnished by their poor season, which has returned only four wins.

The Crows have not missed the finals in Craig's previous five full seasons in charge, but are destined to be September spectators this year.

Asked if claiming Adelaide's scalp has been devalued by their mediocre season, Craig replied: "Absolutely.

"Let's not hide behind shadows, of course it is devalued," he said on Thursday.

"Our responsibility, as part of feeling good about being in this industry, is to make sure that people don't want to play you as a club, that they value your scalp when they get it."

Adelaide's players have vowed to spend the rest of the season fixing their damaged perception.

"They have built up over a long period of time as a playing group something they should be proud of," Craig said.

"And it's not always about winning, obviously it's not because we have had a degree of success but when you come to the ultimate, we haven't been able to achieve that.

"But I think, in general, there has been a recognition in the competition that when you play Adelaide, it's a fair dinkum game of footy.

"And there is an understanding and a feeling that takes a long time to build but can be pretty quickly eroded.

"It is mainly just wanting to address that, and that will be the aim for the rest of the nine weeks."

The Crows host Essendon on Saturday night but have been unable to recall key defender Nathan Bock from a groin injury.

Wingman David Mackay, sidelined by an ankle injury which could keep him out a month, has been replaced by Jason Porplyzia.

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