ADELAIDE has rallied to record a win in Mark Bickley's first game as caretaker coach, surviving a third-quarter scare from Port Adelaide to run out comfortable 32-point victors in Showdown XXXI at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

The Crows led by 22 points at half-time, but experienced a few nervous moments in the third quarter as the Power slashed the margin to just 11 points.

Young star Rory Sloane steadied for Adelaide with a long goal on the run late in the third term, and enigmatic forward Taylor Walker slotted three of the next four goals to break Port Adelaide's spirit and ensure an important 16.15 (111) to 11.13 (79) win in an emotion-charged week for the Crows.

It was the seventh time in the last 11 instances a caretaker coach has won in his first game in charge.

The result was a significant turnaround for the Crows, who recorded a record-low score of 3.6 (24) in their 103-point loss to St Kilda only nine days earlier.

Nathan van Berlo played a typical 'captain's' game, amassing 30 possessions and taking out the Showdown Medal for best afield.

Walker, playing his first game since straining his knee against the Brisbane Lions in round 10, thrived in the absence of injured full-forward Kurt Tippett, booting a game-high four goals.

The loss was further marred by injuries to in-form forward Jay Schulz (foot and back), defender Jackson Trengove (knee) and Tom Logan (foot).

All eyes were on the Crows in the first quarter to see how they would respond to the sudden resignation of long-serving coach Neil Craig on Monday.

The contest between the 14th and 17th-placed teams on the AFL ladder wasn't pretty, with both the Crows and the Power committing basic skill errors, but it was willing.

Adelaide defender Graham Johncock set the tone by running through Port Adelaide forward Cam Hitchcock in the first term, while Showdown 'specialist' Chad Cornes tried to inspire his team by antagonising the Crows midfielders, and giving a trademark fist-pump to the crowd after kicking a goal in the third quarter.

Predictably, Adelaide started well, kicking five of the first six goals of the game.

Schulz did his best to lift the Power with two goals and a soaring mark over Brent Reilly in the second quarter, but the Crows kicked further ahead through solid contributors Sloane, Matt Wright and Jack Gunston.

The two teams went goal for goal early in the third quarter, but Port Adelaide couldn't bridge the gap and the Crows kicked away in the final term.

Influential players
The voting for the Showdown Medal was tight, reflecting the even nature of the contribution from important players van Berlo, Vince, Johncock, Sloane and reliable midfielder Scott Thompson. The performances of Johncock and Vince were particularly significant given their respective poor efforts against the Saints. Vince, who was tagged out of the game by Sean Dempster last week, shrugged off close attention from Tom Logan to gather 30 possessions and an equal game-high eight clearances. Johncock had eight goals kicked on him by Stephen Milne in his 200th game against the Saints, but helped set up the win over Port Adelaide with his trademark run from defence and aggression.

What a difference a week makes
Adelaide almost bettered its final score against the Saints in the first quarter of the win over Port Adelaide, falling only two points shy. As Bickley encouraged during the week, the Crows took risks and played on at all costs, breaking the magical 100-point barrier for the first time since round eight, albeit against the bottom team in the competition. More performances like that earlier in the season might have kept Craig in the job.

What the coaches said
Mark Bickley (Adelaide): "There was an amount of emotion there. How much is hard to define. We need to give credit to the playing group. Emotion doesn't guarantee victory and the way they controlled that emotion was very good. We learned there's enormous character within the group. It's been a really tough week and they were able to respond."

Toyota AFL Dream Team highlight
Adelaide: Skipper Nathan van Berlo ($284,000) led from the front for the Crows, amassing 30 possessions and five clearances to post a game-high 120 DT points, comfortably surpassing his average of 83 for season 2011.
 
QUARTER BY QUARTER SUMMARY
First quarter
The heat was on early with both teams looking to make a statement in what has been a forgettable season for both clubs. There was plenty of niggle off the ball, and when Adelaide's Graham Johncock ironed out Port's Cam Hitchcock, it was clear both sides were set for a bruising afternoon. Showdown specialist Chad Cornes opened the account for the Power with his first goal in the early minutes, but from there the Crows took control. Taylor Walker made something of nothing with a clever goal off the deck, followed by goals from Andy Otten and Jack Gunston to give Adelaide an 11-point lead at the 17-minute mark. The fierce tackling pressure of both clubs was a highlight, with 31 tackles laid in a physical opening quarter.
Adelaide 3.4 (22) Port Adelaide 1.5 (11)

Second quarter
The Crows picked up where they left off after the first break, with a thrilling dash from Patrick Dangerfield setting up Gunston deep inside 50. But the young Crow was denied his second goal with a desperate tackle from Port's Troy Chaplin. Adelaide eased out to a handy 22-point margin with successive goals to Matthew Wright and Rory Sloane, before Jay Schulz marked strongly and kicked a goal to break Adelaide's five-goal run. The Power's wayward finishing was preventing a Port revival, with misses to Hamish Hartlett and Chad Cornes proving costly. Schulz's hanger late in the term provided a highlight for the Power, with his effort keeping his side within four goals at the major break.
Adelaide 8.7 (55) Port Adelaide 4.9 (33)
 
Third quarter
Quick goals to Justin Westhoff and Brett Ebert reduced the margin to 11 points within the first five minutes of play. But in a cruel twist for Port, Schulz was subbed off after injuring his left hamstring in a tough marking contest. Chad Cornes produced another Showdown moment, plucking a one-hander in the goalsquare and slotting his second goal to put the Power back in it. But the momentum continued to swing, with a classy running goal to Sloane and a set-shot score to Walker extending the margin to four goals once again. Adelaide continued to get to the ball first, leading the clearance count by 18 at three-quarter time. Walker booted a third after the siren to put the Crows in a commanding position at the final change.
Adelaide 13.10 (88) Port Adelaide 9.10 (64)
 
Fourth quarter
Walker drove another dagger into Port's chest, booting his fourth goal early in the final quarter after a smooth transition from the Crows out of defence. A late hit from Cameron O'Shea on David Mackay sparked an old-fashioned Showdown melee, with plenty of willing participants including Chad Cornes and Chris Knights throwing their weight around. Mackay's resulting goal iced the game for Adelaide, with the final 32-point margin not necessarily reflecting the tone of the contest.
Adelaide 16.15 (111) Port Adelaide 11.13 (79)

The next four
Port Adelaide: Collingwood (AAMI Stadium), Hawthorn (MCG), Western Bulldogs (AAMI Stadium), Melbourne (Adelaide Oval)


Adelaide               3.4     8.7    13.10   16.15   (111)
Port Adelaide        1.5     4.9    9.10    11.13    (79)

GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 4, Wright 2, Gunston 2, Sloane 2, Otten, Henderson, Jacobs, Doughty, Maric, Mackay
Port Adelaide: Hitchcock 3, Schulz 2, Ebert 2, C. Cornes 2, Westhoff, Thomas

BEST
Adelaide: van Berlo, Vince, Thompson, Sloane, Johncock, Walker, Dangerfield
Port Adelaide: Boak, Pearce, Hitchcock, Cassisi, Hartlett, Gray

INJURIES
Adelaide: None
Port Adelaide: Schulz (foot and back), Trengove (knee swelling), Logan (foot)

SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Daniel Talia replaced by Aidan Riley at three-quarter time
Port Adelaide: Jay Schulz (left hamstring) replaced by Mitch Banner in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires:  Margetts, Schmitt, Hay

Official crowd: 40,586 at AAMI Stadium

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs