Leon Cameron says his midfielders were disappointed they were unable to match it with a fired-up Adelaide for the first three-quarters during their 22-point loss at Adelaide Oval.
But the coach said he was proud of the way his group fought back from a 46-point deficit at the final change to give Adelaide a scare in the final term.
Tom Scully’s set shot from 45m was deemed, on review, to have been touched on the goalline by Sam Jacobs in the dying stages of the game.
Had Scully’s goal stood, the GIANTS would have been within two goals with about two minutes to play and a chance of pinching the contest.
The GIANTS were monstered in contested possessions, a previously strong suit this season, for three quarters, leading Cameron to challenge his side to lift in the final term.
“It only takes one, two, or three players to be a couple of per cent off,’’ he said after the loss.
“The midfield would be the first to put their hands up and say ‘look we were a couple of per cent off tonight - credit where it’s due, their mids got on top of ours.
"I'm proud of the last quarter to win contested possession by 14 and still put pressure on the scoreboard in the last quarter even though the game didn't go our way.”
The loss leaves the GIANTS with a 7-3 record ahead of a tough road trip to Geelong next week.
Cameron said the side knew that finals were far from a given but believed the group would benefit from playing in a final-like atmosphere against the Crows. The 46,737 strong crowd was the largest GWS has played in front of.
The GIANTS were slow to adjust to the tempo of the match but Cameron insisted the atmosphere at Adelaide and the intensity of the match were not issues.
“No one knows whether we’ll play finals or not,’’ Cameron said.
“We’re 7-3. It’s been a good start, we’re pleased just (before) the half-way mark.
“In terms of that atmosphere, it’s great. The more and more we play in front of those crowds (the better). It’s a great crowd.
“I think if you asked the players, I don’t think the atmosphere got to the players.
“I think purely they’re just disappointed that they just didn’t deliver on what they know that they can.”
At one point during the match, Cameron’s notes were captured by cameras and beamed into living rooms across the country.
The coach said he believed a line had been crossed and he would take the matter up with the AFL.
“Not really,’’ Cameron said when asked if he was fine with the incident.
“I understand that there’s an interest in looking at the coach being a lunatic at times.
“There’s no doubt we’ll have a chat and fix that up. You’ve just got to be careful because it is our space.
“Within 30 seconds I’d moved on and forgotten about it.”
Cameron said Adam Kennedy was suffering a delayed concussion after a heavy fall late in the match. The backman is also sore in the shoulder and will be assessed this week.
