Round 21 v GWS Giants, UNSW Canberra Oval
With their finals hopes on the line, Adelaide headed to Canberra to face the Giants in frosty conditions.
The Crows gained a 12-point lead in the second term but could not hold on as the Giants claimed a 14-point win.
Both sides let chances slip with inaccuracy and the Giants finished the night with fresh injury concerns.
However, the feel-good story was the return-to-form of Brodie Smith who played his second AFL game after returning from ACL surgery.
BRODIE'S BACK: Smith's successful return
Smith (29 disposals) was one of the best for Adelaide and looked at ease across half-back, complemented by Rory Laird (25) and Matt Crouch (30) in the midfield.
Josh Jenkins kicked a game-high three goals but Adelaide’s missed opportunities in the fourth quarter halted a serious comeback.
Sam Jacobs enjoyed an entertaining ruck battle with Rory Lobb, tallying a season-high 55 hitouts.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 4.4 6.9 11.14 15.16 (106)
ADELAIDE 4.3 7.7 10.9 13.14 (92)
GOALS: Jenkins 3, Murphy 2, Lynch 2, Gibbs 2, Douglas, Mackay, Betts, Walker
BEST: Smith, Sloane, Crouch, Lynch, Keath, Gibbs
Adelaide players celebrate Eddie Betts' game-saving goal after the siren
Round 22 v North Melbourne, Adelaide Oval
Eddie Betts was the late hero as his high-flying mark in the dying seconds and goal after the siren secured a nine-point victory after North Melbourne nearly erased a 37-point deficit.
Adelaide kept the Kangaroos goalless in the second quarter and held a five-goal lead at three-quarter time before North kicked four goals in five minutes late in the final term.
Betts saved the day with his Mark of the Year contender over ruckmen Sam Jacobs and Todd Goldstein that left them stunned and key performances by Josh Jenkins (three goals) and Matt Crouch (46 disposals) kept the Crows on track.
RUCKMEN REACT: Jacobs, Goldstein after Eddie's epic mark
Crouch also collected an AFL record of 35 handballs, while Rory Laird (41) again had plenty of the ball.
Andy Otten restricted key forward Ben Brown to just four disposals and no goals, while Mitch McGovern (two goals) and Hugh Greenwood (two) hit the scoreboard at the other end of the park.
ADELAIDE 3.4 7.9 10.13 12.14 (86)
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.2 3.5 6.7 11.11 (77)
GOALS: Jenkins 3, Greenwood 2, McGovern 2, Gibbs, Knight, Gallucci, Lynch, Betts
BEST: Crouch, Laird, Gibbs, Atkins, Jenkins, Otten
Debutant Elliott Himmelberg is showered in Gatorade following Adelaide's dominant win
Round 23 v Carlton, Etihad Stadium
Adelaide ended a challenging 2018 season on a high with a thumping 104-point victory over Carlton at Etihad Stadium.
The Crows kicked an impressive 13 goals in each half, led by Josh Jenkins (seven goals).
The free-flowing forward line enjoyed success as Jenkins was joined by Jordan Gallucci (four), Eddie Betts (three) and Rory Atkins (three) in peppering the scoreboard.
Cam Ellis-Yolmen (24 disposals) was a late addition to the midfield where he impressed alongside Bryce Gibbs (24) and Matt Crouch (29).
Defenders Rory Laird (34) and Wayne Milera (25) capped off brilliant years with controlled performances.
Elliot Himmelberg kicked a goal on debut to cap off a strong year for new faces in the Adelaide team and 53-gamer Jake Kelly had coach Don Pyke up and about after kicking his first AFL goal.
JOY FOR JAKE: Kelly's first goal
CARLTON 1.4 5.4 7.8 8.13 (61)
ADELAIDE 5.4 13.6 20.8 26.9 (165)
GOALS: Jenkins 7, Gallucci 4, Atkins 3, Betts 3, Knight 2, Gibbs, Seedsman, Himmelberg, Lynch, Milera, Laird, Kelly
BEST: Laird, Crouch, Jenkins, Atkins, Ellis-Yolmen, Gibbs
