Waalitj Marawar coach Daisy Pearce believes her side showed encouraging signs of improvement despite falling to Kuwarna by 17-points at Unley Oval on Saturday.

After a difficult start to the AFLW season, Pearce said the Eagles' performance against the Crows more closely resembled the brand of football the team has worked hard to build.

"I walk away a bit more pleased and can see our brand today," said Pearce.

"The first two games have been disappointing whereas I thought for almost three quarters it looked a bit more like us.

"It was just that drop off in the second quarter, but we took some steps forward today."

Pearce identified a period in the second term as the defining passage of the contest, with the Eagles unable to maintain the intensity required against a strong Crows side.

"I thought the second quarter we probably had a 10-to-15-minute patch where our intensity around the ball just wasn't up to the level," Pearce said.

"Aside from that, I thought we were able to compete with them pretty strongly throughout the rest of the game.

"It's a good reminder that if you switch off against a quality outfit like Adelaide, they make you pay."

A key positive for Waalitj Marawar was a significant improvement in team defence, an area the team had focused heavily on during the week heading into round three.

"We were much better at defending as a team," Pearce said.

"We put a bit of work into that during the week, and I thought that was where our improvement came from today.

"We don't get the reward of four points, but it gives us some nourishment to go away and keep getting after that because we can now see the impact that it has."

Among the Eagles' standout performers was star midfielder Ella Roberts, who once again impressed with her work both with and without the ball.

Roberts finished with a game high 27 disposals and drew praise from Pearce for her defensive effort throughout the match.

"Ella was outstanding," Pearce said.

"She wins the ball, she looked composed with the ball and she's always threatening.

"But the thing that inspires her teammates is how hard she worked defensively today to get back and help defend.”

While the Eagles remain winless through three rounds, Pearce remains confident the group can turn their season around, with the focus now shifting to next week's clash against Melbourne back home.

"I believe in this group," Pearce said.

"We'll review this game really well, we've got some good feedback today that the team defence stuff is an important thing to keep putting time into.

 “We'll make sure we get our week right and get after Naarm."