Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell believes his side's inability to capitalise as much as the opposition when in control was ultimately what hurt the Hawks in their 14-point loss against the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

"I think both teams did a decent job of, when they had momentum, putting scoreboard pressure on, but they were a little bit cleaner and a little bit more clinical when it really mattered," Mitchell told reporters post-match.

"I think we had some momentum a couple of different times, but we weren't able to put the score on the board (to) put them away. So, bit disappointing there."

Hawthorn kicked the first five goals of the game before giving up the next eight. They then landed another run of five, but couldn't clinch the game at the death.

The momentum swings might have suggested a gale blowing to one end of the ground, with 23 of the game's 28 majors kicked to the Cathedral end, but that simply wasn't the case.

"I actually rang down to the bench and said, it doesn't seem like it but is there any breeze at all? So no, no answers for why they were all kicked to one end," Mitchell said.

"But I think, it's very rare that one team has the momentum for a whole game."

It was the second quarter where the Hawks were really exposed, and were particularly hurt around stoppage. Will Day, who started the game at blistering pace with nine disposals and six clearances in the first term, was held tightly by Crows captain Jordan Dawson, allowing the home side to gain ascendancy at the contest.

"I think we lost the contested possession by 20 in the quarter, which is world record pace, so that's not going to get it done against anyone, let alone Adelaide," Mitchell said.

"So, there was a level of contest around the middle of the ground that we just got a touch up in the second quarter, and we weren't able to get the ball into our front half at all, and then we just had too many issues in the game.

"There's little details, like we gave up four goals from forward 50 stoppages, so stuff like that… we just weren't quite sharp enough tonight, and when you play the best sides, that's a challenge. You can't afford to have any part of your game not on, and we had enough in our game that they were able to exploit."

Day, who was playing just his second game back from a long-term foot injury, struggled throughout the second quarter, notably with the game pausing for him to come from the field with what appeared to be cramping.

"I figured I'd get asked about it, so I deliberately didn't talk to the medical guys because I don't have an answer yet. He was cramping, he has ice on most parts of his lower body, as plenty of the players do, so unsure just yet," Mitchell said.

Watch Mitchell's full post-game press conference below