Adelaide remain a long way from challenging for the AFL finals despite a sudden resurgence, coach Neil Craig says.

The Crows have flown from 15th to 10th in two weeks, but Craig has tempered any enthusiasm for a finals berth after their horrid start to the season.

Adelaide lost their initial six games, but Craig senses a "new life" for his club - but it doesn't necessarily include the finals.

"That (finals) will look after itself," Craig said after the Crows dismantled Essendon for an 84 point win on home turf on Saturday night.

"We have got to worry about just playing at that level on a consistent basis ... we are still a long way away from probably challenging for the finals in reality.

"We are playing some better football at the moment and that is pleasing for us, the club and also for our supporters.

"But we can't take our eye off the ball in terms of making sure we maximise the next eight weeks so that we have maybe got a bit of a head start on what we would have had next year."

The Crows still have many hurdles to jump, being two wins from the top eight, Craig said.

"Providing we keep working hard, there will be new life and there will be hope, and hopefully our supporters can see that there is some hope for our footy club," he said.

"We always want to try and make the finals, it's really important that we set that as an agenda.

"We set that very early in the year and our performances were nowhere near up to scratch.

"And we are not out of the woods yet ... we need to see more of that sort of football against different opposition, away from our home ground, so there are lots of those hurdles ... that we as a club have got to jump."

Craig conceded Adelaide's 19.10 (124) to 5.10 (40) trouncing of Essendon would raise the prospect of a late charge to the finals.

"I know it sounds boring to people ... but what we have got to concentrate on is what generates a result, not focusing on a result," he said.

"You have got to have a goal of where you want to go, I understand that.

"But if you keep saying 'you have got to win' or 'you can't lose because of a wooden spoon' or whatever, it means not thinking about the sort of football you want to play.

"And that is where we have got to stay very focused about what we are doing."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP