Showdown 45 will go down in history as one of the best with Adelaide keeping its season alive thanks to a controversial three-point victory over Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Crows forward Josh Jenkins capped a superb individual performance, kicking the match-winning goal with less than three minutes on the clock, though the ball appeared to graze the post on the way through.

In an on-ground interview after the game, Jenkins admitted he thought his shot had hit the woodwork.

"My grandma raised me not to tell fibs. I think it hit the post but I'm pretty happy that they didn't think so," he told Fox Footy.

The Crows (10-9) are still within touch of the top eight, while the Power (12-7) have slipped to fifth and missed a major opportunity to consolidate their spot in a congested ladder.

The Power looked like they were home when Chad Wingard booted his fourth goal to give his side a 10-point lead at the 18-minute mark of the last term.

Goalless to that point, Crows forward Eddie Betts, usually a prolific goal-kicker in Showdowns, kicked his first goal of the game before Jenkins gave the Crows the lead with a snap that was reviewed, but given the all-clear that it didn't hit the post, much to the delight of the 50,377-strong crowd.

Power star Robbie Gray claimed a record fourth Showdown Medal after booting four goals, having 20 disposals and 12 contested possessions.

It's the fifth Showdown that has been decided by a goal or less, and the equal-lowest winning margin alongside the Crows' three-point win in round 16, 2015.

The Crows have retaken the lead in the overall ledger 23-22 and have won six of the past seven against the Power.

Matt Crouch was brilliant with his inside contested work, finishing with a game-high 35 disposals, while Bryce Gibbs turned in a strong performance in his 250th game, finding plenty of the ball, with 29 disposals, and using it well.

Jenkins was the dominant player on the ground in the first half with 14 disposals, seven marks and two goals.

He had just four touches, one mark and a goal after the break, but kicked the goal that counted.

All Australian defender Rory Laird was averaging 32.9 disposals per game heading into the Showdown, but Darcy Byrne-Jones restricted the Crows star to just 18 touches in a superb tagging role.

Jared Polec's outside run was important, Dan Houston was lively off half-back and second-gamer Kane Farrell kicked three first-quarter goals.

The Crows kicked the first three goals of the game before the Power responded to take a nine-point advantage – 9.5 (59) to 7.8 (50) – into half-time.

ADELAIDE                               5.3  7.8   9.14   13.18 (96)                  
PORT ADELAIDE                   5.3  9.5   10.9   14.9   (93)  

GOALS
Adelaide: Jenkins 3, Sloane 2, Walker, Murphy, Greenwood, Gallucci, Lynch, Doedee, M.Crouch, Betts
Port Adelaide: Gray 4, Wingard 4, Farrell 3, Boak 2, Byrne-Jones

BEST 
Adelaide: M.Crouch, Gibbs, Jenkins, Sloane, Atkins, Doedee
Port Adelaide: Gray, Polec, Wingard, Ryder, Byrne-Jones, Boak

INJURIES 
Adelaide: Talia (right calf)
Port Adelaide: TBC

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Nicholls, Mitchell

Official crowd: 50,377 at the Adelaide Oval