Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has a blunt message for critics who believe his club is way off the AFL pace: you're wrong.
But ahead of Sunday's encounter against North Melbourne in Hobart, Nicks is pleading for patience among Crows fans as his rebuild continues.
Nicks says there's no danger of his 15th-placed side taking the Roos, in 17th spot with just one win, lightly.
"We underestimate how close this competition is, it's dangerous to do that," Nicks said.
"We are getting a lot of things right as a footy club and a lot of people think we're miles off it.
"I tell you, we're not far away.
"This competition ... every weekend is a tough game, there are no easy games in this league any more.
"So yes, it's a very, very tough road trip.
"We will go down with a real focus, a respect for North Melbourne and what they do well at their best.
"And we will go down with a want to get the game on our terms, we want to bounce back from last week, that is the priority."
The Crows have lost six of their past seven games amid increasing unease among their supporters at the results in Nicks' third season in charge.
"I hope they are patient," he said.
"I hope they see what it is we're working on ... I hope there are parts of our game they can see the development and they can see the team are competitive.
"In saying that, we have got to be better."
Nicks was demanding a response from his players to last week's capitulation to Gold Coast - the Crows were 13 points down with six minutes to go but lost by 43.
"And a coaching group ... or as a playing group or a footy club, that is what you're looking for - a response to a disappointing performance where you can fight straight back," he said.
"We are going down to Tassie, it's going to be a big challenge.
"We can't wait. It has been a long week when you come off a performance that we had.
"But we're really confident that we're playing good footy, we have got to string it together for four quarters and know that is going to be enough."
