Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson says he’ll swing the selection axe after a three-point loss to Melbourne he described as “inexcusable”.

Sanderson says he’s frustrated at many inconsistent players as the Crows slide to three wins and four losses this AFL season.

“We can’t keep picking players if they aren’t contributing,” Sanderson said after the Demons won Saturday’s twilight fixture 11.4 (70) to 9.13 (67).

“We have got guys playing well for small patches in the game and then they will drift out for a quarter – you can’t do that in the modern game.”

The Crows will lose forward Tom Lynch for up to six weeks with a broken jaw while defender Matthew Jaensch has suspected broken ribs.

Both were sidelined before halftime in the loss to the lowly Demons.

“We really let our fans down today,” Sanderson said.

“That is the third game at Adelaide Oval we have lost and our fans deserve better than that. They will be really angry, we know that.”

Adelaide have the bye next weekend and expect key forward Taylor Walker to return to AFL ranks after his knee reconstruction in their next match, against Collingwood on May 15.