Pyke eyeballed his players for about 30 seconds before speaking in a three-quarter time curiosity in the Alice Springs game.

“Pykey was just trying to, I guess, elicit a response from us,” utility David Mackay told reporters today.

“Coming into the huddle and we obviously realise it was a really poor performance up to that point.

“As a playing group we all understand how we’re going and the areas we’re poor at – we just weren’t able to arrest that and change it.

“There’s no real surprise to us as to how our coaching staff dealt with our performance.”

The loss was the heaviest in Pyke’s two-and-a-half year tenure as Crows coach.

But Mackay said players, not coaches, would shoulder the blame.

“We take from it what we can in terms of learning. But ultimately it’s about our response next week and that is what we can control now,” he said.

“It’s funny, this (next) game comes around pretty quick … our focus will shift pretty quickly to that and getting back to the level of footy that we want to play.

“It’s a real good lesson for us as a footy club that if we don’t bring the required intensity and if we’re slightly off our game, what can happen.”

Winger Paul Seedsman (groin) and halfback Luke Brown (concussion) will face fitness tests ahead of Adelaide’s home game against Greater Western Sydney next Sunday.

Captain Taylor Walker and vice-captain Rory Sloane won’t face the Giants at Adelaide Oval.

Walker is in the midst of a spell after suffering a series of injury niggles while Sloane continues to battle a foot problem.

– AAP