A gallant Crows side just couldn't overcome Sydney's brilliance according to coach Matthew Nicks on Saturday night.
Holding a 16-point lead deep into the third term, Joel Amartey and the Swans put 10 in succession on the Crows, running out to a 42-point belting out of nowhere.
Five of Amartey's career-high nine came in this period, as Crow backs were left scrambling in the defensive end in attempt to quell the offensive surge while reaching to steal back momentum.
"I thought we pushed and pushed and pushed," Nicks said post-match.
"They took it to another level, and we didn't go with it."
Nicks emphasised how it was a game of moments, and too often those moments came at the Crows' expense, particularly the double-goal conceded by Mitch Hinge's fiery hit on Taylor Adams.
"The timing's critical on being combative," Nicks bemoaned.
"There's not point being combative after the moment, it's too late.
"They'd wrestled that momentum back, and that just basically put some fuel on the fire unfortunately."
The season grows longer and tougher for the Crows. The Tigers seemingly ended it in last week's upset but this performance showcases the gap between Adelaide and the best.
Facing their first bye in the year after a lengthy stretch of footy, Nicks conceded that the break is much-needed for his playing group.
"We get a chance to reset ourselves," he said.
"We've just played 14 games in a row, so we'll take a bye and we need it. Our guys are looking forward to that physical and mental break.
"This is our first look at it. Some have had two byes."
Quizzed again on the O'Brien axing in favour of Kieran Strachan, Nicks presented the idea of a change-up, potentially fielding both big men, being in the decent form they're in.
"Kieran deserves his opportunity and we've given him that. He came up against arguably the best ruckman in the competition... great lesson."
"Reilly's working on a few things back there... could be an opportunity to look at two rucks."
The decision will come into question during the week, and will undoubtedly meet severe scrutiny if unsuccessful, especially after the contemplation of a bye week.
But despite the seemingly terminal scrutiny coming Nicks' way, the Adelaide coach holds faith the process he has set, believing that the playing group and the club as a whole are sticking tight during this dark period.
"I've learned that I've got a pretty good footy club looking after me at the moment," Nicks said when asked what he has learned about himself coaching this campaign.
"Our playing group have been incredible through this tough time. We're sticking tight.
"I hope it's a sign of the sort of human I am; we're not going to give up, we're going to keep pushing through.
"We actually feel like we are making progress this year... our results don't show that and we understand the frustration."