Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker has implored the club's senior leaders to respond after their first loss of the season.

The Crows were blown off the park in an incredible 10-goal first quarter in their 59-point loss to North Melbourne at Hobart on Saturday.

Walker said it was up to the Crows' leaders – including himself, vice-captain Rory Sloane, Eddie Betts, Daniel Talia and Tom Lynch – to make sure they lifted their intensity for Saturday's game with Melbourne at Adelaide Oval.

"You need to take full responsibility as leaders," Walker said on Monday.

"I'll put my hand up first. It was probably one of my poorer games this year and in the last two or three years, so I need to review that not only as a player, but as a leader.

"Sometimes you just need to make decisions on field, whether it's the right or wrong one, you need to deal with that during the week.

"It's a learning curve for us as leaders."

Veteran midfielder Scott Thompson is also in the Crows' leadership group, but hasn't played a game this season.

Lynch will need to prove his fitness for Saturday night's clash with the Demons after leaving the ground late in the second quarter with concussion after a heavy tackle from Jarrod Waite.

"He's fine, obviously he'll have to pass his concussion test this week," Walker said.

"Hopefully the big fella will get up for us."


The Kangaroos smashed the Crows at the contest in the opening quarter on their way to a 64-0 lead at the first change.

While the Crows ended up winning the contested possession count 168-161, it counted for little with the game all but over.

"You don't need to get to this stage to understand how important contested footy is," Walker said. 

"Before this week, we have been top two for contested footy and we understand how important contested footy is to our game plan.

"As soon as we go away from that, we'll get the results we had on the weekend."

The Crows had blown opposition teams off the park in the opening six rounds to emerge as favourites for the premiership.

But after a remarkable weekend where every team lower on the ladder won their respective game, Walker said the loss to Kangaroos served as a valuable lesson.

"I wouldn't call it a wake-up call, it's just footy," Walker said.

"If you're not on top of your game, especially when you're on top of the ladder, teams want to knock you off.

"You've got to be able to take the punch in the face and be able to respond and we weren't able to do that."

Second-year midfielder Wayne Milera, who was a late withdrawal on Saturday, is also a chance to return to face the Demons.