ADELAIDE is back in the top eight and right in the hunt for a finals spot after upsetting Richmond by 36 points at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
The 11.22 (88) to 8.4 (52) win temporarily pushes the Crows ahead of Geelong and North Melbourne into seventh spot on the ladder, while the Tigers' chances of a top four finish now appear slim.
The home side's strong and relentless attack was impressive, although their dismal conversion of opportunities was at times hard to watch.
It didn't frustrate coach Scott Camporeale, though, who was thrilled with Adelaide's most consistent performance this year.
"You'd like to hit the scoreboard and put some more pressure on them but I felt like we were in control of the game," he said.
"It was probably the best four-quarter performance we've had for the year."
Experienced campaigner Scott Thompson was again king on the inside, winning 30 possessions and laying 10 tackles, while Patrick Dangerfield rid himself of a Trent Cotchin tag to finish with 29 possessions and a goal.
Despite trailing by just a goal at half-time, Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said his side wasn't even in with a chance.
"I thought we were never in the game, to be honest it felt like a 100-point loss in the coach's box," he said.
"The players felt the same thing, we got absolutely obliterated [in] contested ball, tackles and clearances.
"We were never in the game."
Strong and relentless attack saw the Crows home, although their dismal conversion of opportunities would have frustrated coach Scott Camporeale.
Experienced campaigner Scott Thompson was again king on the inside, winning 30 possessions and laying 10 tackles, while Patrick Dangerfield rid himself of a Trent Cotchin tag to finish with 29 possessions and a goal.
Dustin Martin was sensational for his side in Brett Deledio's absence, slotting three important goals and assisting two others.
Tigers ruckman Ivan Maric opened Richmond's account in the game's early minutes on the back of some silky ball movement, but it was his former side who pressed hardest in the opening term.
From the 10-minute mark until the quarter-time siren the Crows managed 13 more inside 50s than Richmond and 17 more disposals.
The numbers meant little at the first break, though, with a final squandered opportunity from Eddie Betts allowing the Tigers to remain in front.
After two early misses, Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker desperately needed to find his range and that he did from a booming 55m set shot.
It gave the Crows the lead, which was extended courtesy of a brilliant tap from Sam Jacobs into space that allowed Charlie Cameron to swoop on his second major.
The home side continued to dominate field position, although Richmond's defensive pressure was keeping it in the game.
A lucky bounce for Jack Riewoldt and a classy finish from Martin drew Richmond level until Walker again took the lead, slotting his second on the half-time siren.
The story of the first half continued into the second, with the Crows pushing but failing to capitalise.
They scored six consecutive behinds in a frustrating 18 minutes of football before Martin nailed his second to maintain his perfect efficiency by foot.
Josh Jenkins broke the Crows' drought with a nice snap and added a second minutes later – the booster his side craved.
Having dealt with a close tag from Cotchin, Dangerfield raced down the wing and drilled another.
Walker missed a seventh shot at goal but Betts and David Mackay booted late majors to see the Crows home.
The Tigers' cause wasn't helped by the hamstring injury to defender Dylan Grimes, who was subbed out at half-time.
ADELAIDE 2.6 5.8 8.16 11.22 (88)
RICHMOND 3.1 5.2 6.2 8.4 (52)
GOALS
Adelaide: Cameron 2, Walker 2, Jenkins 2, Betts 2, Lynch, Dangerfield, Mackay
Richmond: Martin 3, Maric, Grigg, Ellis, Riewoldt, Vickery
BEST
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Thompson, Walker, Laird, Talia, Jacobs, Sloane
Richmond: Martin, Hunt, Houli, Grigg, Miles
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Richmond: Brett Deledio (illness) replaced in the selected side by Sam Lloyd, Dylan Grimes (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: David Mackay replacedRiley Knight at three-quarter time
Richmond: Sam Lloyd replaced Dylan Grimes at half-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Bannister, Dalgleish, Nicholls
Official crowd: 50,094 at Adelaide Oval
