Midfielder Richard Douglas says an 'embarrassed' Adelaide was taught a lesson in Hobart on Saturday.

After setting records in six victories to start the season, the Crows created some unwanted history in the first quarter against North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena.

The red-hot Kangaroos kicked 10 goals in an inspired opening term, while holding the highest-scoring team in the competition scoreless in a quarter for just the sixth time in Adelaide’s history.

The Roos were aided by a strong breeze, but their dominance started at the contest.

North Melbourne won the contested possession (47 – 33) and also out-tackled a shell-shocked Adelaide (20 – 9) to romp to a 64-point quarter-time lead.

“We didn’t come with the effort and attitude that we would’ve liked to and we got showed up. We got embarrassed, really,” Douglas said after the game.

“Our contest and pressure wasn’t at the level that we expect – the level that we brought in the first six weeks. We got beat up around the ball. Credit to North, they played some good footy.

“It’s a tough lesson to learn today, what happens if we don’t bring that week in and week out.

“Hopefully, we can respond next week.”

Adelaide steadied in the second term, finding more of the ball and kicking the first four goals.

The Crows closed to within 32 points early in the third, but led by six-goal forward Jarrad Waite North Melbourne kicked away again and posted a deserved 56-point victory.

Douglas said his team basically had to start again at quarter time.

“We had to try and get our game going because we hadn’t fired a shot,” Douglas said.

“For us, it was a matter of getting our hands on the ball. We had to start with the basics, try and get some run and carry going and get the ball forward because we couldn’t even do that in the first quarter.

“Once we did that we started to get our fair share of the ball and looked okay at times, but North played well all day and we were probably never really in it.”

Despite the defeat, Adelaide remains a game clear in top on the ladder.

Remarkably, the top five teams heading into this round all suffered losses.  

The Crows have a week to prepare before taking on Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Douglas said Adelaide couldn’t afford just to write the performance against the Kangaroos off as a bad day.

“We need to learn from it and get better,” he said.

“The boys have been up for six weeks. We’ve played some good footy, but it’s such an even competition.

"Today just shows that if you’re not up to the level you’re going to get embarrassed.

“We’ll review it in depth and make sure we’re ready to go against Melbourne.”