The Lions were disappointed to bring their three-game winning streak to an end on Saturday night when they went down to Adelaide by five points.

Midfield Coach Dale Tapping said the game demonstrated the growth the team has had since Chris Fagan was appointed Senior Coach.

The last time they met the Crows they lost by 80 points and were ‘outclassed.’ The time before that, they were thrashed by more than 100 points.

“It indicates how much growth there has been at the footy Club, particularly this group, in the last eighteen months,” Tapping told lions.com.au.

On Saturday the game went down to the wire, with Lions forward Lewis Taylor kicking a goal after the final siren to bring the difference to within a goal.

“I think that last play was a bit indicative of how we played over the course of the night. We were still pushing right until the end,” Tapping said.

“I think the disappointment comes from how much investment the players are putting in at the moment.”

He believes the second quarter, where Adelaide kicked six goals made it difficult for the Lions to claw their way back.

On Friday the team will travel to Geelong to face the in-form Cats at home. The Cattery is unlike other grounds with an extremely narrow field.

“You have to adapt, you have to adjust,” Tapping said.

“There is space there…We’re just going to have to work really hard and really smart.”