All-Australian defender Brodie Smith finally made his return to AFL football in the Crows' nail-biting victory over Port Adelaide in Showdown 45.

After almost 11 months sidelined with an ACL injury, he returned to Adelaide Oval for the side’s thrilling three-point win in Round 20. 

Post-match, Smith said it took him some time to shake his first-game-back nerves. 

“The pressure was right up… it’s a big jump from SANFL – I knew it’d be tough but it probably took me by surprise a bit,” he said.

“It took me a little bit to get involved in the game but I think in the second half I built myself into the game a bit more and hopefully next week get a bit better.”

Smith had just four touches in the first half, but found more of the footy after half-time to end the game with an encouraging 14 disposals and a couple of inside 50s.

For the 26-year old, hearing the crowd roar at the end of the match was something he had missed most.

“Our fans are awesome," he said.

"I’ve said a few times on social media they’ve really motivated me to get back out there and to come out here today and hear that roar again was a great feeling."

Knowing the win had kept their season alive, Smith said coach Don Pyke had been particularly animated in his post-match message.

“We actually got a bit out of Pykey which was great, he got a bit fired up which we don’t see often,” he said.

He said his side knew exactly what the game meant.

“That game was the whole season on the line and we know where we’re at now – we have to win every game and just hope the teams above us work in our favour and lose a couple,” he said.

With a challenging road ahead, Smith said the win would give the team the momentum it needs heading into the next three games.

“I think we’ve been building over the last month, obviously the Richmond game didn’t go our way but we’ve sort of recaptured our form of last year,” he said.

“If we can really build on that for the last three weeks, get three wins and then wait and see what happens.”