A piece of Eddie Betts magic has capped off Adelaide's gritty 17-point victory against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The crowd of 42,383 witnessed a dour contest until the brilliant small forward jagged a trademark goal from the pocket late in the last quarter to seal the result.
The Dockers trailed by 19 points at three-quarter time before goals to Matt Taberner and Michael Walters gave them a sniff.
But majors to Alex Keath and Betts ensured the Crows improved to 4-3 for the season, getting home 7.9 (51) to 5.4 (34).
Matt Crouch was huge for the Crows with 39 disposals, brother Brad had 31 while Cam Ellis-Yolmen (33), Hugh Greenwood (22, 13 contested) and Rory Sloane (33, 15 contested) were strong in the contest.
Rory Laird and Brodie Smith provided drive out of defence, and Tom Lynch was important with 29 touches across half-forward.
The Dockers were led brilliantly by Nat Fyfe with 32 disposals, including 19 contested, and he received great midfield support from David Mundy (35 disposals and 20 contested), Ed Langdon and Michael Walters.
It was the equal-fifth lowest-scoring second quarter in VFL/AFL history, and the lowest in 31 years when St Kilda and Collingwood scored three points between them in their round 12 match in 1988.
Despite going scoreless for the term, the Dockers still led at the main change – 2.2 (14) to 1.6 (12).
The Crows weren't rewarded for lifting their intensity, having 14 more contested possessions and seven more clearances than the Dockers after losing both areas in the first quarter.
Greenwood brought the house down with a running 52m goal at the eight-minute mark of the third quarter – breaking a 38-minute drought since Tucker's goal at the 25th minute of the game.
Matt Taberner responded for the Dockers before Elliott Himmelberg got one back immediately.
Lachlan Murphy missed a set shot, but the Crows small forward got a second chance after Bradley Hill gave away a controversial 50m penalty for throwing grass at Murphy as he walked in to take his shot.
Murphy converted his second attempt from point-blank range.
In a game of few highlights, running defender Smith provided one with a brilliant goal from outside 50 for the Crows' third straight.
They looked to have broken the game open, but Tucker gave the Dockers a heartbeat with a beautiful long goal to reduce the margin to 13 points.
However, they fell short to fall to 4-3 for the season.
ADELAIDE 1.3 1.6 5.9 7.9 (51)
FREMANTLE 2.2 2.2 3.2 5.4 (34)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker, Greenwood, Himmelberg, Murphy, Smith, Keath, Betts
Fremantle: Tucker 2, Hill, Taberner, Walters
BEST
Adelaide: M Crouch, B Crouch, Sloane, Lynch, Ellis-Yolmen, Laird
Fremantle: Fyfe, Mundy, Pearce, Ryan, Langdon, Cerra
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Fremantle: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Findlay, Wallace
Official crowd: 42,383 at Adelaide Oval
