Reigning Premier Adelaide denied a monumental boilover at Unley Oval on Saturday.

Trailing by nine points at three-quarter time, the Crows finished with a flurry with four unanswered goals to claim a vital 18-point win – 7.7 (49) to 5.1 (31).

Skipper Chelsea Randall, Ash Woodland and Caitlin Gould kicked two goals each for the Crows, who move back to the top of the ladder having extended their winning streak to six games.

Anne Hatchard was instrumental in the comeback, having nine of her 28 disposals in the last quarter to go with 12 clearances for the game.

Partner in crime Ebony Marinoff had 24 of her game-high 32 disposals in the first half, while Randall, Hannah Munyard, Teah Charlton and Chelsea Biddell had strong games.

The Crows hadn't conceded a goal for nine quarters going into the game, and were easily expected to account for the lowly Dockers, whose only win this season was a three-point victory over West Coast in round five.

However, the Dockers didn't read the script, even when they were two players down – Gabby O'Sullivan (shoulder) and Janelle Cuthbertson (ankle) – for the second half.

Mikayla Hyde's sublime snap over her right shoulder gave the Dockers back the lead early in third quarter, before Mim Strom chose the perfect moment to kick her first career goal in her 36th AFLW game to give the visitors a handy edge.

The Crows kicked quick goals through Randall and Woodland to retake the lead at the start of the fourth term, and were never headed from there.

ADELAIDE             0.0     3.3     3.4    7.7  (49)
FREMANTLE         1.0     3.1     5.1    5.1  (31) 

GOALS
Adelaide: Randall 2, Woodland 2, Gould 2, Ponter
Fremantle: Franklin, Seth, Roux, Hyde, Strom

BEST 
Adelaide: Hatchard, Marinoff, Randall, Charlton, Munyard, Biddell
Fremantle: Bowers, O'Driscoll, Verrier, Tighe, Seth, Gore

INJURIES 
Adelaide: Nil
Fremantle: O'Sullivan (shoulder), Cuthbertson (ankle

Reports: Nil