Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks admits his side's interstate record doesn't look good on face value but is adamant they can take it up to the AFL's best no matter the venue.
He has evidence to support the theory, having seen his Crows go within a kick of toppling flag favourites Collingwood at the MCG.
Adelaide produced a scintillating third-term, rattling off seven unanswered goals, before falling two points short in an epic final-quarter arm wrestle.
It left the Crows with one win in six games outside South Australia this season, and a 7-7 record overall that puts them in eighth position.
"Everyone who was in the stadium today saw that was a battle," Nicks said.
"That was good footy and our guys, after 5-10 minutes of wanting to kick the cat, will move on and get ready for next week.
"We know we can play a really high level of footy and take it up to the best."
Adelaide were wasteful in front of goal early and trailed by 34 points during the second quarter but managed to turn the match on its head.
Taylor Walker kicked five second-half goals as Jordan Dawson (35 disposals, five clearances) and Ben Keays (28, 10) played key roles in lifting the Crows back into the contest.
"That's the grit part that's most pleasing. A lot of teams would lie down in that moment," Nicks said.
"This stadium erupts and there's not many teams that have support like they do. It was challenging."
Nicks urged his developing side to heed lessons learnt on the big stage and use them to fuel further growth in the race towards September.
"We've played some really high levels of footy but today the challenge was bigger," Nicks said.
"It was the top side in the comp, the form team playing in front of their home crowd and we were under a lot of pressure.
"That was really pleasing and we've got to go away with that mindset that it's part of our journey.
"There's a lot of sore boys in there - not physically - but they'll come through that."
Adelaide will start hot favourites at home to North Melbourne in round 16 but could be without Nick Murray, who was substituted on Sunday with a hamstring issue.
