Crows coach Matthew Nicks has conceded that his side needs a couple of big scalps to rediscover “belief” in what remains a “frustrating” Adelaide season.

It came after the inefficient Crows lost their fourth game to a quality opponent by less than 10 points, falling to Hawthorn by nine points at UTAS Stadium on Thursday night.

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Adelaide lost to the Bulldogs by six points in Round 2, by eight points to Geelong in Round 3, by two points to Fremantle in Round 4, then by nine points on Thursday night.

It suggests that Nicks’ side – which was thought to have revitalised its season after a destructive win over North Melbourne last Saturday – is right on the precipice, but ‘so close’ will only get them so far.

Asked post-game if he felt his side was one significant win away from asserting itself on the competition, Nicks told reporters in Launceston: “We need a couple of big wins; it’s not (about) one big win.

“We need to put a performance out there over a full four-quarter game against a really good side, and we haven’t done that yet.

“We’re not blind to the fact that there’s still some improvement to come, and it’s probably where I think there’s a bit of frustration, especially (for) those who watch us closely.

“We haven’t hit our straps yet; we’re not at our best. But to be where we are and know we’ve got so much upside still to come, that gives optimism.

“We want to knock off a couple of really good sides to give ourselves belief.”

Saints great Leigh Montagna said on Fox Footy’s post-match coverage that ‘almost’ losses to top sides had been “the story of their year”.

“They needed to take a scalp to frank the form that they were going to be a genuine contender,” Montagna said.

“And genuine contender, we’re talking being a top-six team – you’ve got to be top-six this year if you want to win the flag, and if you’re not winning these close games, it makes it awfully difficult.

“It maybe just sums up where they’re at; they’re just a bit below the top teams in the competition this year.”

AFL legend Jason Dunstall added: “They’re right there in all those games (against top contenders), so they’re putting themselves in positions to win, it’s just taking that next step to get over the line.”

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But dual All-Australian Montagna highlighted the persistent ball movement flaw in Adelaide’s game, which continues to be underlined in its narrow defeats. The club ranks 15th this year for ball movement.

The Crows’ 11 points from their defensive half on Thursday was their eighth-worst result in the past 10 years, excluding the shortened 2020 season. They also failed to punish off turnover.

“That was the issue tonight for them,” Montagna said.

“They’ve been sound defensively … (but) it was looking at this ball movement, that we’ve seen improvement against North Melbourne and Richmond in the second half, but tonight they couldn’t score off turnover or out of the back half, coming up against a stiffer defence.

“They just lacked a bit of potency, particularly once Rankine went out of the game.”

Adelaide, which notched seven more inside-50s than the Hawks for the match, started and finished well, but a seven-goal-to-two Hawthorn run across the second and third quarters proved fatal for the visitors.

“You probably give us two rounds out of the four – two quarters out of the four – (but) unfortunately, when you leave it that late …” Nicks said.

“We’ll have a look at that and (ask): ‘What is it that freezes up to finish so strong?’

“I’m careful of my use of language here, but it looked like we were a little bit locked up through that second and third (quarters), and unable to break the game back open for ourselves.”

The Crows next have their bye before a second meeting with red-hot Geelong back home in Adelaide.