Adam Simpson was the best player for the Roos with 29 possessions while Mark Ricciuto tried hard all day for the Crows to finish with a game-high 34 disposals.
Adelaide made the better of the early going with Ian Perrie opening the scoring with a long goal from outside 50 within the first minute of play. Adam Simpson replied soon after for the Kangaroos but it was to be their only major score for the term.
Ricciuto and Brett Burton were the main possession-winners for the Crows with Burton also kicking truly from long range. The Roos were wasteful in front of goal – scoring six behinds for the term – while at the other end Carey converted from a free kick after Leigh Colbert clattered into his back 20 metres out.
The quarter-time siren saw Adelaide up by 14 points and Ben Robbins flat on his back on the outer wing after a collision with Burton in a marking contest. The groggy Roo was eventually helped from the ground and took no further part in the game.
The game tightened up noticeably in the second quarter with large packs and multiple stoppages the order of the day. The Kangaroos’ midfield adapted better to the change with David King and Simpson racking up disposals at will. Adelaide had difficulty moving the ball past its half-forward line but the Roos again failed to capitalise on their midfield dominance with poor accuracy in front of goal.
The Crows’ scoring dried up completely in the first eight minutes of the quarter but the Kangaroos could only manage four points before Saverio Rocca broke the drought with his first goal in the eleventh minute.
Alarm bells were ringing for Adelaide soon after when Brady Rawlings snatched the lead for the Roos with his first of the day. However, the Crows regained the lead when Perrie bagged his second major to give his side a four-point advantage at the main break.
A miracle dribbled goal from Carey from an impossible angle put Adelaide 10 points up two minutes into the third term but it was all the Kangaroos after that. The Crows were over-using the ball in the wet while the Kangaroos went long and direct by foot.
The Roos continued to pepper the goals before late goals to King and Rocca put them out to a surprising but well-deserved 11-point lead at the final break.
Adelaide needed a spark as the final quarter began and Burton provided it with a spectacular snap from the boundary closing the gap to six points. However, the Kangaroos were not to be denied and – despite their continued inaccuracy – surged to a 22-point lead midway through the term.
Adelaide needed a miracle at that stage and although goals to Ronnie Burns and Carey closed the gap it was too little too late.
ADELAIDE: 4.2, 6.4, 7.4, 10.4 (64)
KANGAROOS: 1.6, 4.12, 7.15, 9.20 (74)
Goals: Adelaide: Carey 3, Perrie 2, Burton 2, Johncock, Burns, Goodwin. Kangaroos: Rocca 2, Simpson, Harvey, J Clayton, Rawlings, Jones, Petrie, Motlop.
Best: Adelaide: Ricciuto, Burton, Shirley, Carey, Clarke. Kangaroos: Simpson, King, Harris, Rawlings, Porter, Grant, Jones.
Injuries: Adelaide: Edwards (quad) replaced in selected side by Begley. Kangaroos: Robbins (concussion).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Sheehan, Avon, Goldspink.
Crowd: 42,259
At AAMI Stadium
