See-sawing form is competition-wide issue: Lyon

So bad was Fremantle's 100-point loss to the Crows that the game will only be briefly discussed with his players before moving on to next Sunday's match against Collingwood at Domain Stadium.

But while supporters may be smarting at Lyon's biggest loss as a coach, he believes the competition this season has evolved and every side will suffer.

"We are seeing teams dominate in halves and then capitulating in halves," Lyon said.

"The physical demands, the mental demands when you have got to get the absolute best out of yourselves to be competitive, is challenging.

"It's where we sit in the basket with a number of teams. We are seeing teams going from extraordinary to ordinary very quickly because they just have not got that absolute out-and-out talent to sustain the high level of football for 22 weeks.

"There is no doubt that's what is going on."

Lyon made no excuses for the loss, nor did he understate Adelaide's exceptional performance.

"We embarrassed ourselves," Lyon said. "But we have got eight days to play Collingwood. We won't dig in too much...

"We have acquitted ourselves well (over the previous seven rounds)."

Adelaide coach Don Pyke said the focus during the week was on a far better start compared with most games this season. The challenges now get tougher, starting with Geelong at Simonds Stadium next Friday night.

The Crows will dominate the big exposure games with five of their next seven on a Thursday or Friday night, including a return bout with the Cats at Adelaide Oval in round 18.