Adelaide has recovered from a slow start to bank a slogging 25-point win against Melbourne on Saturday and remain unbeaten.
The Crows won 12.8 (80) to 7.13 (55) at Adelaide Oval with captain Taylor Walker's three goals critical in a rain-affected fixture.
Coach Phil Walsh was pleased his side could withstand the pressure and and win the tight contest.
"They obviously came over with a plan, you know against a Paul Roos team it'll be an arm wrestle, he brought the arm-wrestle, we're happy to get into an arm-wrestle," he said.
"[After quarter-time] our guys just matched it and outworked them and, most importantly, out-tackled them in those conditions."
Adelaide's midfield brigade wore down the Demons, with David Mackay (23 disposals, 13 tackles), Rory Sloane (30 possessions) and Cam Ellis-Yolmen (two goals) prominent, while Scott Thompson gathered 28 disposals in his comeback from a hamstring injury.
Melbourne lost Sam Frost to a left foot injury in the second term and ex-Crow Bernie Vince will be scrutinised for a high third-term hit on Sloane.
Vince engaged in a furious running battle with Adelaide star Patrick Dangerfield, with his physical tactics prompting a three-quarter time melee which could cost both clubs some money.
Related: Walsh happy with Crows' focus
Melbourne was well served by recruit Heritier Lumumba (25 possessions), rugged onballers Nathan Jones and Daniel Cross revelled in the heavy going with 20 disposals each, and Jeremy Howe took a trademark screamer.
But after launching an early raid, Melbourne's scoring was subdued - they kicked just four goals after the 11-minute mark of the opening quarter and were left to rue several skill errors.
Melbourne scored the initial three majors and led 21-0 in an opening which stunned the 43,713-strong Adelaide crowd.
But the Crows responded with a triple treat of their own and an Ellis-Yolmen 60m bomb on the run edged them within three points at quarter-time.
Adelaide then applied the squeeze and kicked nine of the next dozen goals, including three rapid-fire shots to open the third term, to effectively seal its win.
The Crows finished with an impressive 108 tackles, 24 clear of Melbourne.
It may have been a second loss for the Demons from their opening three games, but coach Paul Roos was adamant his side was a far stronger outfit than this time last year.
"We gave a really good account of ourselves certainly in all but really 10 minutes today and we had two bad quarters last week," he said.
"We've certainly improved significantly and the players are listening and auctioning."
ADELAIDE 3.1 5.3 9.4 12.7 (80)
MELBOURNE 3.4 4.6 6.9 7.13 (55)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 3, Ellis-Yolmen 2, Cameron, Lynch, Jenkins, Mackay, Smith, Brown, Betts
Melbourne: Hogan, Garlett 2, Newton, Jones, Kent
BEST
Adelaide: Sloane, Mackay, Thompson, Jacobs, Douglas, Talia
Melbourne: Jones, Lumumba, Howe, Vince, Cross, Tyson
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Melbourne: Frost (foot)
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Matthew Wright replaced Charlie Cameron at three-quarter time
Melbourne: Angus Brayshaw replaced Sam Frost (foot) in the second quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Margetts, Meredith
Official crowd: 43,713 at Adelaide Oval
