WHILE Adelaide’s rollercoaster season ended on a dip, retiring Crows coach Matthew Clarke said he was always going to be “proud” of the playing group and the way the team went about its business on and off the field.

“Immediately after a loss you’re a bit flat but ultimately its a really impressive group of people,” he said. “I was excited to get involved in AFLW way back when because I’d seen the impact that it had on our club in terms of it just made us better ultimately and there was just a passion and energy there and I thought maybe I could help a little bit with regard to the football stuff.

“But in terms of what I’m most proud of its just the way they treat people, the way they make them feel internally or externally anyone who becomes associated with our club just fall in love with our playing group so it’s just been really rewarding to be part of that and be able to be the coach for an extended period.”

It was a bag of mixed emotions for Clarke as his tenure at the club – which featured two of the Crows’ three flags – came to an end at the hands of Melbourne. The Dees jumped out of the blocks before the Crows headed them to lead by 13 points at the main break. Unfortunately there would not be another chapter in Clarke’s famed coaching career, as the home side booted five goals to one after half-time to secure the 9.6 (60) to 7.7 (49) victory.

“We came out of the blocks a little slow, and then the second quarter obviously was a really strong response,” Clarke said. “Even game at three quarter time so ultimately as I said we probably had a few chances at the start of that fourth quarter where we couldn’t quite execute and to Melbourne’s credit they were efficient when they had their chance.”

Even in the final term the Crows threw everything at the Dees, registering the first 10 inside 50s but then the Dees were the first to score and essentially ice the game.

“I honestly think it was just a great contest,” he said. “There were moments were where they were well on top and others where we seemed to have control of the game. “At three quarter time, it was clearly the team that was going to take their moment and unfortunately we couldn’t.”

When asked if the game was a microcosm of the year, in the sense that it was an ‘almost’ season for the Crows, Clarke said there was a little more to the ups and downs than just consistency.

“I think its a little bit of player availability at various stages meant we had to look at some different models to generate score but we had a full, healthy list over the last couple of weeks so in the end we just haven’t been quite consistent enough and probably our efficiency of ball use is the thing we can continue to work on, or the next coach can continue to work on,” Clarke said.

“But for the group, I’ve actually loved the season. It seems weird when its not going quite your way, but often that’s when you have the most enjoyment because that’s when you see them trying so hard and working so hard to get better. Sometimes when everything’s going well you’re kind of feet on the desk, but we were certainly working hard this year.”