So just what is the Crows' Plan B?

Brenton Sanderson delivers instructions to the Crows during their clash with Essendon. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE'S match committee met on Thursday morning for a "what if" meeting to prepare for every possibility in the AFL season-opener against Essendon.

Coach Brenton Sanderson and his staff could not have forecast any of the disastrous script that did unfold at AAMI Stadium, regardless of inevitable reaction expected of a drugs-tainted Bombers crew itching to react to a summer of torrid anguish at Windy Hill.

But no-one could have possibly foreseen an Adelaide team in which the attack was one-dimensional and starved by a dysfunctional midfield that failed to protect a wobbly defence.

Sanderson and his men today have to deal with finding the "what next" answers.

The initial curse of the AFL draw that had Adelaide start on Friday night and then wait 15 days to play Brisbane at the Gabba is now a blessing.

The Crows will need all that time to deal with the questions posed not just by the Bombers but their own staggering failings.

Zone by zone there are concerns.

None is more pressing that sorting out the Adelaide midfield that has been rated by Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling as the league's best - and the group to drive the Crows to this year's flag.

Adelaide's midfield was soundly beaten on Friday night.

It lost the critical centre clearances 9-18, all stoppages 33-44 and set up just 48 inside-50 entries.

"The numbers are ugly," says Sanderson.

"They just killed us in centre-bounce clearances.

"We had our A-grade boys in there and, unfortunately, they were beaten. Most of our midfielders will look at the review this week and say they got beaten head-to-head."

What next? At selection Sanderson can hope the impressive Brodie Smith is cleared by the medicos after suffering a broken collarbone in the NAB Cup openers six weeks ago.

But the real answers have to be found in how his A-grade midfielders do their work, particularly when all but Richard Douglas were either poor in their productivity or disposal efficiency.

Patrick Dangerfield, who was reduced to just 17 touches, has to overcome every great midfielder's pain - the tagger.

"Those boys are proud and are a really good midfield," said Sanderson.

"I'm sure they'll get an interesting review from their midfield coach (Scott Camporeale) this week and they'll bounce back really hard against Brisbane."

Adelaide's new-look attack was set up with small and mid-size players around key forward Taylor Walker, specifically to exploit the Essendon defence which has been the game's biggest leakers in the past decade.

It failed.

Although to have just 48 inside-50s to work from meant it would always be a tough night for the Adelaide forwards.

"They held us up pretty well," said Sanderson of how Essendon cracked Adelaide's habit of burning teams on counter-attacks.

"We couldn't get any run going. We normally attack through the middle of the ground, but they forced us wide and we kicked the ball out of bounds on the full too often."

What next? Adelaide could set up its attack with Josh Jenkins starting in a key forward tandem with Walker.

It could recall specialist small forward Ian Callinan, who missed Friday night as he recuperated from a knee ligament strain.

Adelaide's defence again conceded more than 100 points - as Essendon found 13 goalkickers - and looked static on the rebound. Crows defenders also made inexcusable errors, particularly on kick-ins that now have to be executed within six seconds.

"We play our best footy when we're dynamic and take the game on - it wasn't there," said Sanderson.

"Maybe we have to be a bit more daring at times; risk versus reward."

What next? Adelaide will have Richard Tambling clear of his back complaints and primed by three games with SANFL club Sturt. His run from half-back would be critical, provided his disposal behind centre is clean.

It seems there will be many meetings - and much demanding work - at West Lakes in the next fortnight.