Having taken on the might of GGGM Lions, Wagga Tigers and Coolamon in the first month of the season, it was always going to be a difficult start to the season.

"We haven't had an easy run, and the Griffith game was the most disappointing still to date in terms of where we see ourselves and their side, and it probably should have been a lot closer than it was," Crows coach Sam Darley said.

"As coach, you have to instil belief, but you have to got to be as brutally honest as you have to be sometimes. In our side, we have a lot of guys who, if we are competing for a flag, aren't playing senior footy, so all I can do is ask for effort.

"If we get beaten on ability, you can't do much about that, but if we don't give effort that is the frustrating thing.

"The second half we gave effort on the weekend. I don't think Ganmain have conceded over five goals this year, and we kicked four, so while we obviously leaked a fair bit the other end, we still kicked four against a side who has defended really well."

RELATED

The next month will see the Crows take on Narrandera, Turvey Park and Collingullie before having the bye in round eight.

But after the result for the Eagles on the weekend, which saw Narrandera take a 57-point win over Collingullie, Darley knows they will be up and about.

"Narrandera had a good win, so any illusion that our boys might have been under that it might be a cakewalk next week that has probably been put to bed," he said.

"I hope they are looking at the next three weeks as a massive opportunity to hopefully find some form and get a couple of wins."

The task won't be made easier by the fact that Bryce O'Garey is set for an extended stint on the sideline following an injury sustained against the Swans.

"Bryce O'Garey missed the weekend, and he will miss another four to six. He tore his oblique in the Griffith game and somehow managed to get up the following week," he said.

"There were a few blokes banged up like myself I'm pretty sore, but nothing that I think is going to keep anyone out.

" Alex Daly will miss this week as well as he is still away in Darwin, so we will be a couple of men down, but hopefully, there will be a couple of boys who come back.

"Dylan McGillveray will be available for selection this week."

The first bounce is set for 2.10pm on Saturday.

***

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: