While Brad Crouch may have looked cool, calm and collected late in Adelaide’s two-point win over Melbourne on Saturday night, the reality was very different.

The Round 11 clash at Darwin’s TIO Stadium had evolved into an unpredictable rollercoaster of emotions, with ups, downs, twists and turns appearing at every junction as the two sides battled to take home the four premiership points. 

Crouch told AFC Media post-game he was 'so nervous' as the game clock ticked down, watching on while two late shots on goal from Demons Max Gawn and Sam Weideman missed the mark.

“You were just like ‘why are we in this sort of game?’,” Crouch said.

“Obviously then we got in front (then) they had a couple of shots (to win the game), just so nervous every time they took a mark and had a go.

“We were just so happy at winning away.”

Adelaide was left chasing Melbourne all evening on the back of a disappointing first half, trailing by as much as 31 points at the 10-minute mark of the third quarter. 

However, the Demons were unable to land what seemed an inevitable knockout blow.

Final quarter goals to Josh Jenkins, Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Eddie Betts and Tom Lynch brought the deficit to under one straight kick before Crouch was presented the opportunity to put the Crows ahead on the scoreboard for the first time.

With the game deep into time-on, the midfielder went back and converted the set shot from 40 metres out with his 28th disposal of the night.

“Eddie (Betts) spotted me up really well, he saw me inside,” Crouch said.

“I was pretty fatigued at the time, so I went back and tried to go through my normal routine. Just tried to kick through it and luckily it went over the goal umpire’s hat.

“I was pretty pumped (after kicking the goal), but at the same time I knew there was still three or four minutes left to go so I went back to the middle and tried to get on with it.”

The 25-year-old admits the Crows were 'a little bit lucky' to leave Darwin with the win, but he couldn’t be happier with the resilience shown by his team in the comeback victory.

Adelaide's strong finish came despite missing the on-field inspiration and leadership of co-captain Rory Sloane, who went down with a low-grade hamstring injury early in the second quarter.

“We showed a lot of fight because we were one down with Sloaney as well, and the boys were pretty tired, so it was a great away win for us,” Crouch said. 

“In the first half, I think along with all our midfielders, we were a little bit off. They (Melbourne) were hitting the ball everywhere and Max Gawn, he’s really hard to read because he can hit it anywhere he wants.

“I thought ROB (Reilly O’Brien) did it really well competing with him throughout the game.

“We played a lot better in the second half and late in the game, which is the main thing.”

 

Adelaide’s focus now shifts to a rampant Greater Western Sydney, who travel to Adelaide Oval next Saturday on the back of an 83-point win over Gold Coast. 

“They’re in great form at the moment so it’s going to be a very tough game,” Crouch said. 

“It’ll be good to play at home and get our supporters behind us.”