St Kilda 14.7 (91) defeated Adelaide 10.8 (68) by 23 points to record its 14th win of the season - its best effort since it reached the 1997 grand final, but subsequently lost, also against the Crows.
It was the Saints second win from four matches at York Park, with their only other victory coming against the Western Bulldogs by 65 points in round 21, 2003, while the Crows have yet to win at the Launceston venue in two outings.
Despite losing its 13th match for the season, Adelaide's displayed plenty of grit for most of the match, but was in the end was outclassed by St Kilda. The loss now sees Adelaide coach Neil Craig with a 2-4 win-loss record, since taking over as coach in round 14.
Harvey continued his outstanding recent form with and an outstanding display, which included 37 disposals, in what was arguably his best match of the season.
Twin key forwards Fraser Gehrig (five goals) and Nick Riewoldt (three) were damaging up forward with eight goals between them, while Austinn Jones continued his All-Australian type-form with 27 touches after rebounding out of defence.
Heath Black, Nick Dal Santo and Brendon Goddard were also fine performers for the Saints.
Adelaide skipper Mark Ricciuto continued his brilliant 2004 form, which could net him back-to-back Brownlow medals, as he finished with three goals and 19 disposals.
Matthew Clarke was terrific in the ruck, particularly in the centre bounces, while Tyson Edwards and Brett Burton showed why they are so highly rated at their club, as they combined with 32 touches.
In many ways, it was the battle of the injury-hit teams, with St Kilda claiming Max Hudghton, Luke Penny, Matt Maguire, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Powell, Xavier Clarke, Leigh Fisher, Jason Gram and Craig Callaghan on its injury list, while regulars Stephen Milne and Trent Knobel were dropped.
Adelaide entered the match with an injury depleted list, consisting of Mark Stevens, Trent Hentschel, Matthew Bode, James Begley, Michael Doughty, Jason Torney, Fergus Watts and Jacob Schuback, with veterans Wayne Carey and Nigel Smart retired.
Ruckman Rhett Biglands was also out due to suspension, while emerging defender/forward Ben Rutten was a late withdrawal with a back injury.
And from the opening minute the injury list grew for the Crows, as midfielder Hayden Skipworth headed straight to the rooms after leaving the field with a hamstring injury.
And by the 12-minute mark Adelaide had also lost key defender Ken McGregor, who was set for a significant role, after starting on the brilliant Riewoldt.
St Kilda controlled the majority of the first term, with Harvey dominating with 12 touches and key forwards Gehrig and Riewoldt combining with four goals.
Early on, Adelaide managed to make the most of its rare opportunities up forward, jagging two of the opening five goals, but when St Kilda booted three in six minutes late in the term, the home side led by 25 points at quarter-time.
The Saints continued to pepper the scoreboard early in the second term, but failed to make the most of their opportunities, as Gehrig, Leigh Montagna and Allan Murray all added behinds, before Goddard made it four unanswered goals.
It gave St Kilda a 34-point lead and with Adelaide struggling for numbers, the floodgates looked set to open at the picturesque ground.
But Adelaide refused to lie down and it soon became a goal-for-goal affair, before the pride of South Australia added three in succession to reduce the margin back to 16 points at the main break.
Ricciuto was a key figure during that period, as he booted two for the term and provided great leadership to keep the Crows in the contest. The ever-reliable, yet still underrated, Edwards was also important.
St Kilda kick-started the second half with a couple to gain a 28-point lead, but again Adelaide fought back with two in a row to remain in the hunt. The Crows could have made it five unanswered goals, had it not followed up with three behinds, which proved costly in the context of the match.
With a fascinating final term looming, the Saints quickly broke away, with three goals to lead by 30 points, as Ricciuto was his side's lone goalscorer.
Adelaide coach Neil Craig said the loss of Rutten before the match, Skipworth and McGregor early in the match, plus Hart during the match with a hamstring injury was difficult, but he was making excuses for that after the match.
"We came down to win and after about the first 15 minutes of the first quarter, we thought we were always a chance to still win the game," Craig said post match.
"So that's a real disappointment for the club, because we're on about winning, however, we weren't good enough today, so we rebound next week at home."
St Kilda: 6.1 9.5 11.5 14.7 (91)
Adelaide: 2.0 7.1 9.4 10.8 (68)
Goals: St Kilda: Gehrig 5, Riewoldt 3, Harvey 2, Goddard, Hamill, Montagna, Murray
Adelaide: Ricciuto 3, Burton 2, Welsh 2, Shirley, Stenglein, S.Stevens
Best: St Kilda: Harvey, Gehrig, Jones, Black, Riewoldt, Dal Santo, Goddard
Adelaide: Riccituo, Edwards, Clarke, Burton, Johncock
Injuries: St Kilda: Nil
Adelaide: Hart (hamstring), McGregor (hamstring), Skipworth (hamstring)
Changes: St Kilda
Adelaide: Rutten (back) replaced in selected side by S.Stevens.
Reports: St Kilda
Adelaide:
Umpires: Kennedy, Grun, K.Nicholls
Crowd: 17,101
