Adelaide forward Taylor Walker says losing the “ability to be brave” was what cost the Crows in the fourth quarter of their 14-point loss to Greater Western Sydney on Saturday night. 

Heading into three-quarter-time with a 17-point buffer, Adelaide conceded five unanswered goals to slump to its ninth defeat of the season. 

Speaking to Roo, Ditts and Loz on Triple M Adelaide Breakfast, Walker said the Crows were unable to fight back against a GWS side that upped its intensity. 

“We lost our ability to be brave I thought,” Walker said. 

“When they upped their pressure and were coming at us we were on the back foot, it was like a boxing fight where we stayed on the rope and didn’t really throw any punches back towards them.

“Pressure does funny things, but we just need to get better at winning the footy and playing the game in our front half when a team comes at us like that. 

“We want to be a brave footy Club and hopefully we can get back to playing that way this weekend.”  

Sitting 12th on the ladder, Adelaide will be desperate to fight back into finals contention this Sunday as it travels to the MCG to face fourth-placed Melbourne.

Walker said the squad was excited to get back to the MCG and test itself against one of the form teams of the competition. 

“They are in good form, coming off that one-point win over Brisbane last week, so hopefully we can go over there and test them out and get a win to keep our finals hopes alive,” Walker said. 

“We’re looking forward to getting back over to the ‘G and testing ourselves against a very good side on their home deck.”  

Adelaide takes on Melbourne at the MCG this Sunday afternoon with the first bounce at 2.50pm (ACST).