GWS coach Leon Cameron says his players must be "better for longer" to compete against the AFL's elite.
The Giants slipped to a 21-point away loss to Adelaide on Saturday night which left Cameron with mixed feelings.
Cameron was proud of his players for a gallant fightback - from 21 points down in the third quarter, they recovered to hold the lead with about 10 minutes remaining.
But he was disappointed the Giants were then steamrolled by the Crows, who booted the last four goals of the game.
"I was proud of the way we fought back ... and got the game back on even terms," Cameron said.
"(But) we have got to be better for longer if we're going to compete against really good teams.
"That's an area of improvement we need to find."
GWS was on the wrong end of a lopsided free kick count - they received just seven to Adelaide's 24.
"It's hard to assess that until I watch the replay," Cameron said.
"We haven't discussed it much but that's a fair discrepancy.
"I couldn't say right now we got beaten because of the free kick count.
"We needed to be better in the first 20 minutes of the game and the last 10."
Giants star Toby Greene was a late withdrawal; failing to overcome a knee injury suffered the previous week.
But Cameron expected the dangerous forward to play against North Melbourne in Hobart next Sunday.
"Toby, with his history over the last couple of years, in the end we erred on the side of caution," Cameron said.
"He has got to get through training next week for him to play (next week), we think that is going to happen."
