Adelaide (Kuwarna) defender Mitchell Hinge has conceded cheap free kicks cost the Crows' chances of ending a 10-game losing streak to the Magpies, as the Crows once again fell short to Collingwood by less than two kicks.
The previous four encounters, and five of the last six, had been determined by less than a goal, and that trend of close games continued on Saturday at the MCG.
With the Crows hunting their first finals campaign since 2017, a win against the red-hot Pies would have been a pivotal four premiership points to collect, but once again, Adelaide fell short by fulltime.
Hinge said the club's effort was respectable but lapses in concentration hurt as the Magpies made the most of the Crows' turnovers and free kicks.
"I think we gave ourselves an opportunity to win the game, and small moments probably cost us and that's what's really disappointing," Hinge said.
"Our focus this year is on trying to learn from these things and how we can get better.
“I think we had a few little costly mistakes like free kicks, where we just let them off the hook.
“They were able to punish us from those, and we probably weren't able to do the same on the opposite end.
“These are the little things that obviously you need to get right in the closer, tighter games. That's where most of the disappointment comes from, to be honest."
Hinge reflected on the previous week's Showdown result, where he praised the Crows for getting the "little things" done, while admitting that Collingwood were the side to nail those facets on Saturday.
“It's more of a continued growth, continued improvement sort of situation rather than the one week and sitting with the disappointment," Hinge said.
“I look at the conditions that were obviously tough but you also play such a good side in Collingwood. We respect Collingwood and what they've been able to do, especially this year.
“When you play these types of games, you rely on contest, you rely on these little moments that we didn't necessarily get right throughout the day and they did.
“I look at the week before and the Showdown where we had a similar game and it came to those little moments and I probably feel like we got them right the week before.
“These are the little things that obviously you need to get right in the closer, tighter games.”
The Crows are tasked with the one-win West Coast Eagles (Waalitj Marawar) in Round 11, in a game Hinge knows Adelaide shouldn't take lightly following their result against St Kilda.
"We say it every year, every week, how tight the competition is. This year especially feels a little bit different, it does feel like things are really tight," Hinge said.
"I think not necessarily us, but all across the competition this year heavy favourites (have lost), and if you don't come with your right mentality, then things can go the other way."
Adelaide host West Coast on Sunday.
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