Adelaide forward Tom Lynch says he was proud of his team’s ability to win in a ‘different way’ against Collingwood on Saturday night.

The Crows looked like running away with the game after kicking the opening five goals, including several neat passages of end-to-end play. 

But the Magpies ramped up their trademark pressure, forcing the home side into error and clawing back to within seven points in the second quarter.

The Crows were never headed, running out eventual 28-point winners.

Lynch, who kicked two goals from 21 possessions, said the result was hard fought.

“Collingwood were really impressive with their pressure. We had to win a different way,” he said.

“At times, we obviously would’ve liked to have moved the ball a lot better and play the way we’re accustomed to, but that wasn’t the case.

“To get the four points in a gritty sort of performance was handy in the end.”

The match in front of more than 50,000 fans at a sold-out Adelaide Oval marked two-time Club Champion Scott Thompson’s 300^th AFL game.

Lynch said it was important the Crows got the win on a ‘special night’.

“Thommo is only the fifth (Crows) player to reach 300 games. That’s obviously an exceptional achievement for him and the Club,” Lynch said.

“On a personal note, he’s a great friend. The boys adore him. He’s a great mentor for every single player at the Club and he thinks about others before himself.

“I could stand here all day and talk about Thommo … he’s just a champion and I enjoy playing with him each week.”

The win was Adelaide’s eighth straight and propelled the Club into second spot on the AFL ladder.

Despite the Crows recording their longest winning streak in a decade, Lynch said his team needed to improve to secure the best-possible ladder position ahead of finals.

“It’s a bit of a logjam at the top end of the ladder. If you have any slip ups, you’re going to find yourself working your way down that top eight,” he said.

“We’ve got to keep working hard and improving as a Club because what I do know is that the footy we’re playing now is not going to get us where we want to go.

“But the boys are working really hard.”

The Club’s next challenge is Geelong at Simonds Stadium.

The Cats, who upstaged the Crows at home in Round Eight, were the last team to beat Adelaide.

“It’s extremely tough to win down there (in Geelong),” Lynch said.

“We played down there last year when we had a final the following week and we were really poor. They’re obviously a team around that top-eight. These are really important games for us.

“Hopefully, we can rest, recover and have a big one for Thommo’s 301^st!”