If Richardson had relished something of a ''honeymoon period'' assisted by a favourable draw in the first three rounds, and so far defied gloomy pre-season predictions, the Saints received a gut check at Etihad Stadium against the improving Crows - and there are sterner tests to come.

In the top eight after wins against Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney (and an honourable effort interstate against West Coast), the Saints paid the price for a lack of defensive effort against Adelaide, going down 20.16 (136) to 7.8 (50), and will need to regroup quickly for big challenges against top-four aspirants Essendon and Hawthorn in the next three weeks.

In between, the Saints also host winless Brisbane in New Zealand in what looms as a significant occasion in the club's season.

The Saints will be without defender Nathan Wright for that crucial period and beyond after a mid-air collision with teammate Jarryn Geary left Wright with a suspected broken right leg.

Although he bravely got to his feet, Wright was subbed out of the game soon after, leaving the Saints a player short 10 minutes into the second quarter.

If scans confirm the worst-case scenario, Wright - a promising young player who had shut down Rory Sloane in the first quarter - Richardson predicted he could miss up to ''10 or 12 weeks''.

Midfielder David Armitage is also in doubt for Saturday's game against the Bombers at Etihad after spending time off the ground with a ''laceration'' to his knee.

With the Crows run-and-gun corridor game in full flight, the Saints turned the ball over far too often and failed to apply pressure in the midfield, causing Richardson to appraise the loss as a sharp learning curve for his young team.

''We spoke about this in messages to our supporters, we met with journalists at various stages throughout the pre-season and said that we are often going to be playing a young team that will be led really strongly by some fantastic experienced players.

''But if … we don't get a buy in, then we are a chance to get these results. But that doesn't mean we just accept it and move on. No, no, we challenge [the players] really strongly and aggressively.

''It's a great opportunity for our guys to review this game really strongly and come out clear, and that's what we said in our meeting just then, if we don't bring the effort required, we are going to be really uncompetitive.''

The Saints will get back ruckman Tom Hickey next week and defender Sam Fisher is a chance for a return through the VFL.

The Crows notched their first win and avoided their worst start to a season since 2010 without Patrick Dangerfield breaking out of his form slump.

Tagged by Saint Tom Curren, Dangerfield had 19 disposals and a goal but little impact.

The Crows arrived at Etihad Stadium 40 minutes after their scheduled time because of traffic problems associated with a nearby charity run - compromising their pre-game preparation - but it was the Saints who didn't seem ready, registering just three goals in the first half.

In a free-flowing game in which Crow Jared Petrenko and returning Saint Jack Steven kicked ''goal of the year'' contenders, the Crows got the game on their terms early and never looked back.