Frustrated Adelaide captain Nathan van Berlo has held truth talks with teammates in a bid to ensure Neil Craig's resignation doesn't fracture the AFL club.

Van Berlo said disappointment at Craig quitting would drive the Adelaide playing group for the remainder of their worst ever season.

"I understand Craigy's reasons as to why he has made the decision," van Berlo told reporters on Thursday.

"For us as a footy club now, we have just got to make sure that it doesn't fracture us as a group - that we make sure that we're there for each other and we make sure our performances for the rest of the season really count.

"If we are able to do that, then I think we can take a great deal out of what has been a very trying year for us to date.

"As players we have had some open dialogue about how we're feeling and that is perfectly natural and is what you need to do in tough times."

Van Berlo felt a range of emotions since Adelaide's 103-point loss to St Kilda last Friday night, triggered Craig's decision to quit on Monday.

"There have been a lot of emotions this week but anger is not one of them," he said.

"Frustrated and a lot of other emotions have gone through, and ones that no doubt will drive me and the playing group to perform.

"I won't lie to you, I was very emotional over the weekend and it has been a very testing week.

"Craigy means a great deal to myself, having been at the football club since I first arrived.

" ... What he has taught me over the seven years being here, he has been a huge personal influence in my life.

"So to see him go through what he has had to go through this year, and to make the decision that he made, which he firmly believes is in the best interests of the footy club, is certainly a tough couple of days to go through.

"But I know that if I can get through a week like this in football, if we can get the football club through it with the rest of the playing group, that we'll certainly be stronger for it."

Van Berlo said he stressed to his teammates they were responsible for extracting Adelaide, currently in 14th spot with just four wins, from their predicament.

"We hold ourselves accountable by our performance ... we take responsibility and do all that we can to make sure that we get the most out of the remainder of the year," he said.

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