Adelaide has fallen to West Coast by 56 points in an emotional contest at Domain Stadium on Saturday night.
The Eagles piled on eight goals to nil in the second quarter to record the 22.15 (147) to 14.7 (91) victory.
But the home side didn’t have it all their own way, as the Crows battled manfully in their first game since coach Phil Walsh’s death, winning the first and third quarters.
But it was the spread of Eagles’ goalkickers, 13 at the final siren, that proved too much as West Coast registered its biggest score of the season.
Their midfield was prolific at the feet of a sublime Nic Naitanui in the ruck. Andrew Gaff (35 disposals and three goals), Matt Priddis (35 and one), Chris Masten (33 and one), Luke Shuey (31 and two) and Elliot Yeo (26 and three) all racked up huge numbers.
"Ithought it was game on there for a little while and really not totallysatisfied with the way we defended tonight and Adelaide did some things thatexposed our way," Eagles coach Adam Simpson said post-match.
"But I thought we adjusted and adapted and in theend we had a good win, but not totally comfortable."
Patrick Dangerfield produced an inspirational performance for the Crows with 36 disposals, 21 contested and five inside 50s in an outstanding display. Taylor Walker kicked three goals, Charlie Cameron and debutant Riley Knight kicked two apiece, while Daniel Talia did a sterling job in defence, keeping Coleman Medal leader Josh Kennedy to two goals.
Adelaide coach ScottCamporeale said he was really pleased with how his team handled the week.
"I couldn't have beenany more proud about their preparation and the way they attacked thegame," Camporeale said post-match.
"I thought we playedsome really good footy in patches. But to the Eagles' credit, they are verywell drilled, very well coached. They're second on the ladder for a reason.They played really well tonight."
The Crows were slow to start, understandable given the emotion written across the players' faces pre-match during a minute's silence for Walsh.
The Eagles kicked the opening three goals in the first eight minutes before the Crows scored. It took a mistake from Yeo in defence to gift Cameron his first, who saluted his late coach by touching his black arm band.
It sparked the Crows into action, with Dangerfield collecting 13 possessions and five clearances for the term as Adelaide kicked six goals to one to lead by 14 points at the first change.
The second term was all one-way traffic. The Eagles kicked the first goal of the quarter but when Dangerfield went off under the blood rule, having cut his lip while laying a strong tackle, the floodgates opened.
The Eagles had 121 possessions to 63 for the term, 21 insides 50s to six and kicked 8.7 to 0.1 to lead by 40 points at half-time.
The Eagles smashed the Crows out of the middle with Naitanui giving them first use and his teammates locking the ball in their forward half - four of the Eagles’ eight goals came from forward-half turnovers.
But the Crows would not lay down, kicking five goals to three in the third term to keep them within 29 points at the last change.
The Eagles responded with a four goals in five minutes at the start of the last quarter to entrench themselves in the top four, now three games clear of fifth spot.
After the match, players from both sides huddled together to again honour Walsh, with several overcome with grief. Both teams were given a standing ovation by the 38,133-strong crowd when leaving the ground.
The emotion will carry over into Adelaide’s clash with cross-town rival Port Adelaide next weekend, a club Walsh worked at for more than a decade.
The Eagles will face Collingwood at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon in a match that will have major consequences on the shape of the top four.
WEST COAST 4.0 12.7 15.10 22.15 (147)
ADELAIDE 6.2 6.3 11.5 14.7 (91)
GOALS
West Coast: Gaff 3, Yeo 3, Kennedy 2, LeCras 2, Hill 2, Darling 2, Shuey 2, Priddis, Selwood, Wellingham, Masten, Sheed, Cripps
Adelaide: Walker 3, Jenkins 2, Betts 2, Knight 2, Cameron 2, Lynch, Wright, Smith
BEST
West Coast: Gaff, Shuey, Naitanui, Masten, LeCras, Priddis, Yeo
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Talia, Laird, Crouch, Henderson.
INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Adelaide: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Mark Hutchings replaced Xavier Ellis in the fourth quarter
Adelaide: Cam Ellis-Yolmen replaced Nathan van Berlo in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Harris, Dalgleish
Official crowd: 38,133 at Domain Stadium
