Michael Voss and Carlton had no idea that was coming.
The Blues were terrible in the first term on Thursday night and that eventually condemned them to their first loss of the AFL season.
Adelaide kicked eight goals to two in the opening quarter and while Carlton did their best to rally, the Crows kicked clear late to win by 56 points in the 18.10 (118) to 9.8 (62) victory.
Certainly, Carlton's pre-game was not ideal, with Mitch McGovern ruled out during the warm-up because of calf tightness.
But the start, especially on such a big occasion, was every coach's nightmare.
Voss said the Blues were relishing the chance to continue their impressive start to the season.
It was a big occasion - the opening match of Gather Round, against one of the host Adelaide teams - and Carlton flopped.
"I thought our preparation was really good. We'll forensically look at that, just to make sure that it was," Voss said.
"We were really excited coming here and we were really excited by the opportunity. We understood the challenge.
"The Carlton Football Club is not talking down the Adelaide Crows, let me tell you.
"So we knew what was coming and we just weren't able to get the game the way we wanted it early."
Asked whether it was Adelaide's great play or Carlton's poor execution, Voss said it had to be a combination.
"There was a response ... and I'm pleased they stuck that out," he said.
"But when the whips are cracking, you have to be there at the start and we just weren't.
"It has to be a bit of both. We tip our hat to the opposition, they were too good.
"We didn't do the right thing. We didn't come at the start and at an away venue, at a really important occasion, we were on the back foot."
Voss said Carlton deserved whatever criticism is levelled at them, with the focus now on preparing for another big test against St Kilda on April 23.
"Accept what comes our way. We can only go about in the coming week and the next opponent we face," he said.
One bright spot was the impressive return of midfielder Sam Walsh, who played his first game of the season after being sidelined with a back injury.
But along with McGovern, ruckman Marc Pittonet suffered a lacerated eye and defender Adam Saad has hamstring tightness.
"We've started the year in good shape. This was not what we wanted and we're pretty disappointed," Voss said.
