Adelaide has kept its SANFL finals hopes alive with a gutsy 16-point victory over Glenelg on Saturday afternoon.

The lead changed hands five times in an entertaining affair at the Bay, with the Crows seeing off the Tigers in a thrilling final quarter to finish 15.12 (102) to 13.8 (86) winners.

It was Adelaide’s second consecutive SANFL victory and the Crows’ third win from their past four games.

Sam Kerridge was immense in his first outing since June. The 21-year-old gathered 26 possessions and an equal game-high nine clearances to lead the Crows in close.

Consistent youngster Matt Crouch also continued his outstanding SANFL form with 31 disposals, eight marks, seven inside 50ms and a critical final-quarter goal.

Returning tall Lewis Johnston was influential in a rebounding role across half-back in his comeback from a hand injury. Johnston finished with 20 possessions and seven marks, but still managed to float forward and impact the scoreboard, kicking two telling goals.

Versatile utility Sam Shaw began the match in defence and nullified dangerous Tiger Clint Alleway, before the being moved forward in the third term after sustaining a minor ankle injury. Shaw collected 20 touches, seven marks and a goal and was named best afield in another complete performance from the 23-year-old.

Speedy trio Jared Petrenko, Rory Atkins and Riley Knight were also electric for the Crows in sewing up Adelaide's seventh SANFL triumph of the year.

Click here to see all the stats from Adelaide's first SANFL win at the Bay.

Crow veterans Jason Porplyzia and Ben Rutten were both late withdrawals from the clash. Rookie Alex Spina was reported late in the second term of the contest.

The result keeps Adelaide in touch with the top five with two rounds remaining in the SANFL season.

Coach Heath Younie said he was glad to come away with the points from such a closely-fought contest.

“It was a very even game of footy today,” Younie told afc.com.au.

“Our first quarter was okay, but I thought we didn’t defend that well at times with both in our tackling pressure and our off-ball running.

“It was just a bit patchy and inconsistent from us. But then we were good in other periods.”

Younie lauded the performances of Kerridge and Johnston, who both emerged unscathed from the contest at Glenelg Oval.

Johnston’s role across half-back was a particular point of praise from the coach post-match.

“We wanted him to see the game in front of him,” Younie said of the decision to play Johnston in defence.

“He’s a really good decision-maker and such a good ball-user. It gave us a different look down there.”

“We had strong debate in the box whether we were going to throw him forward at some point, but in the end we struck to our structure.

“I thought he was really good today.”

Adelaide bolted to its best SANFL start since Round Nine as the Crows slotted the first four goals of the contest.

Kerridge made his presence felt early in his return match. The hard-nosed midfielder sent the Crows forward for their first inside 50m and laid several heavy tackles in the clinches.

Emerging youngster Riley Knight also showed his class, evading two Tiger tackles to setup Cam Ellis-Yolmen as Adelaide streaked away to a 24-point advantage at quarter-time.

The Tigers awoke in the second term with great physical pressure to reel in the gap. Craig Pitt booted a pair of goals as Glenelg narrowed the margin to just 13 points at the 10-minute mark.

Lewis Johnston snuck forward from his post at half-back to boot a steadying goal for Adelaide, as the Crows held on to a 16-point lead at the main break.

The clash intensified in the third when Glenelg made its charge. The Bays took the lead for the first time since the early minutes of the game when Brad Agnew booted the Tigers’ fourth of the quarter at the 17-minute mark.

Adelaide refused to wilt however. Ian Callinan imposed himself on the contest with an important captain’s goal to reclaim the lead for the Crows. Shaun McKernan then followed suit after hauling in a strong pack mark in the goalsquare to keep Adelaide ahead by the barest of margins at the final change.

Both sides battled gamely in a titanic final-quarter struggle.

Ruck pair Jack Osborn and Angus Graham helped steer the Crows home with two monster marks up forward.

Adelaide’s mosquito fleet then finished off the job with Crouch, Callinan and Jared Petrenko finding the middle to put down the resistance.

ADELAIDE  5.2   6.6   9.8   15.12 (102)
GLENELG   1.2   4.2   9.7   13.8 (86)

GOALS
Adelaide: Callinan 2, Johnston 2, McKernan 2, Graham 2, Osborn 2, Ellis-Yolmen, Kerridge, Shaw, M. Crouch, Petrenko
Glenelg: Jolly 2, Pitt 2, Hooper 2, Alleway 2, Stretch 2, McIntyre, Agnew, Scott

BEST
Adelaide: Shaw, Kerridge, McKernan, M. Crouch, Callinan, Atkins, Knight
Glenelg: Stretch, Bradley, Snook, Lonergan, Agnew

INJURIES
Adelaide: Sam Shaw (ankle), Jason Porplyzia (illness) and Ben Rutten (soreness) withdrawn pre-match
Glenelg: Bailey (knee)

REPORTS
Adelaide: Alex Spina in the second quarter for abusing an umpire.
Glenelg: Nil

ATTENDANCE
2,627 at Glenelg Oval