A CAREER-best haul of six goals from Lewis Johnston hashelped Adelaide mark its last ever game at AAMI Stadium with an easy 68-pointwin over Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.
The result bookended the Crows' history at the venue with victories, after theydefeated a highly rated Hawthorn unit in round one, 1991 by 86 points.
Johnston was the pick of the forwards, while midfielder Scott Thompson was backto his best with 33 disposals, seven tackles and a goal.
Retiring Crows champion Graham Johncock received a standing ovation during hislap of honour before the game, but it was Melbourne that looked motivatedearly.
It took nine minutes for the game's first goal when Demon Jeremy Howe snappedtruly and teammate Jack Watts added the side's second just before the firstbreak.
David Rodan's day ended early with an ankle injury and the veteran appeared inimmense pain as he was carried off in the arms of the trainers.
Goals were hard to come by in an uninspiring first quarter as both sidesstruggled to maintain possession.
The Crows looked to two unlikely targets in defender Daniel Talia and ruckmanSam Jacobs to boot the first two majors of the second quarter and dragthemselves back in the contest.
Jacobs' set shot from 55m put the home side in front.
Patrick Dangerfield made it five in a row when he converted from a Melbourneinterchange infringement.
Thompson was in devastating touch with 22 first-half disposals at 91 per centefficiency.
Melbourne's fight returned late in the half as it pegged two goals back but anundisciplined act by Lynden Dunn gifted Andy Otten the first goal of the secondhalf.
Demons coach Neil Craig said acts of frustration from several Melbourneplayers were the lowlight of the day.
"My biggest frustration today was our lack of discipline,"Craig said.
"I think it was minus 11 or 13 free kicks which hurts us immensely.I think there [was] one 50m and two plays off the ball [that gifted] simplegoals.
"We were in the game at quarter time, I thought we were in the gameat half time…two quick goals at the start of the last quarter gave us a sniff –we are a long way from being a hard nosed footy club."
Jacobs was giving his midfielders first use from almost every stoppage andgoals to Mitch Grigg and Ian Callinan pushed Adelaide's lead back beyond 30points.
A frustrating, clanger-filled third term culminated with Melbourne defender TomMcDonald hitting the ball out of Johnston's hands after the Crow marked 25mout.
The former Swan was awarded the 50m penalty and banged it through withoutanyone on the mark.
The crowd's attention turned to Mexican waves in the final term as Johnstonconverted his fourth major before another Melbourne 50m penalty put handed himhis fifth.
His sixth goal, a checkside from 30 metres, was Adelaide's last at AAMIStadium.
Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson said the win was a fitting end to theclub's AAMI affiliation.
"We really built it up internally with the playing group that thiswas an important game for our club and our fans." Sanderson said.
"We had a lot of past players in the rooms before the game and [itwas] a nice way to finish off our time here with a win.
"Chapter one is now closed, chapter two is really exciting."
ADELAIDE 1.2 7.4 11.8 18.12 (120)
MELBOURNE 2.3 4.5 5.9 7.10 (52)
GOALS
Adelaide: Johnston 6, Callinan 2, Douglas 2, Jacobs, Kerridge, Thompson, Talia, Dangerfield, Van Berlo, Otten, Grigg
Melbourne: Howe 2, Watts 2, Sylvia 2, Tapscott
BEST
Adelaide: Thompson, Laird, Johnston, Kerridge, Sloane, Crouch
Melbourne: Jones, Toumpas, Dunn, Terlich, Trengove
INJURIES
Adelaide: Daniel Talia (back)
Melbourne: David Rodan (leg), Jeremy Howe (cut face)
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: David Mackay replaced Jared Petrenko in the third quarter
Melbourne: Aaron Davey replaced David Rodan (leg) at quarter time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fleer, Hay, Armstrong
Official crowd: 35,643 at AAMI Stadium
