Magpies coach Nathan Buckley says Collingwood is continuing to move in the right direction despite having its colours lowered by premiership contender Adelaide at on Saturday night. 

The Pies went down by 28 points, ending a three-match winning streak and, while disappointed with his side’s start, the coach said there was plenty to like.

The Pies conceded the first five goals of the match and ended up losing by about that margin.

They challenged Adelaide during the second and third terms but weight of numbers eventually go the better of the Pies, as the Crows took their eighth-straight scalp.

VOTE: Your 3-2-1 in the Magpie Army Player of the Year Award.

This was despite Collingwood laying close to 100 tackles and forcing Adelaide into more skills errors than it has made in recent weeks.

"It was difficult to question the effort tonight." Buckley said.

"I thought that we gave most of what we had.

"I thought Brodie Grundy was good again in the ruck. James Aish probably played his best game for us.

"Our mids battled OK … (Brayden) Maynard and (Jonathon) Marsh down back showed signs and had their moments against heavy supply.

"There was a lot to like in it other than giving away that head start which was too much for us."

The Crows scored three early coast-to-coast goals.

Buckley said the Pies had laid plans to stop Adelaide's fast ball movement but didn’t execute them early.

Adelaide's other area of decisive advantage was in centre clearances and that proved a telling factor all night.

"(Centre Clearance) is one of the last untouched man-on-man contests," Buckley said.

"You've got three midfielders and a ruckman. It comes down to gritting your teeth and getting it done … The three Adelaide mids were able to be a little bit cleaner."

Buckley would not be drawn on whether the club still rated itself as a finals chance but said the Pies form is on a "steep" upward curve.

Collingwood can reduce the break between it and eighth-placed North Melbourne to two wins if it beats the Roos at the Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

"One thing we haven't given up on is providing our best footy as often as we can," he said.

"I thought our effort was good tonight but we just lacked polish. We need to start well against North. We'll get to Etihad, both off the six-day break.

"Their season is on the line, and we still consider that our season is on the line."