BOTH from an emotional standpoint and in football terms, Adelaide interim coach Scott Camporeale believes Sunday's three-point win over Port Adelaide has "galvanised" his playing group.

The Crows scored their first victory since the death of coach Phil Walsh in front of an Adelaide Oval AFL-record 54,468 crowd, securing the closest Showdown win ever. 

Camporeale said the performance would allow the club to move past the loss of Walsh and potentially salvage their season, with the victory pushing the Crows back into the top eight. 

"This win means a lot to the playing group in terms of being able to move forward and get something out of the rest of the year," he said. 

"The four points are critical for us, we've got to earn the right to keep going forward … but getting through what we've got through and (to) get a win really galvanised the group, absolutely."

It was a clinical midfield performance, led by ruckman Sam Jacobs and veteran midfielder Scott Thompson.

Jacobs dominated in the ruck to finish with 51 hit-outs and Thompson amassed 36 possessions, 13 clearances and kicked a goal.

Adelaide won the clearances 51-39 and hit-outs 57-43.

Thompson was "honoured" to win the Phillip Walsh Medal as best on ground, and although the finish was closer than he would have liked, he was confident the Crows would hang on.

"There was definitely no fear [late in the game], it was hot early – that was a finals-like game today," Thompson said.

"We knew they were going to throw everything at us in that last quarter – they had to, they had no option.

"It was a little bit too close for comfort in the end, but [I'm] extremely proud of the boys' efforts today."

The win was particularly pleasing for Camporeale considering the second half was spent without star backman Daniel Talia, who was subbed in the second term with concussion. 

Talia was smiling and walking around in the rooms after the win.

The coach pointed to his side's well-rounded defensive effort as the reason it was able to succeed without Talia.

"I thought we structured up defensively and slowed them down really quickly (after Daniel Talia was injured) … (Jake) Lever's second half was outstanding, (Kyle) Hartigan (was good too)," he said.

"Our midfield was able to slow them down and that was the critical thing and (our) forwards put great pressure on when the ball went inside forward 50.

"It's team defence at the end of the day that got the job done for us."