Adelaide has rebounded aggressively and convincingly from its horror week to topple Melbourne by 58 points in an entertaining battle in warm, windy conditions at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.

The Crows cast aside concerns about injuries, illness and only one win in their previous five matches to down the Demons 23.14 (152) to 14.10 (94) in front of a noisy, appreciative crowd of 41,364.

It was Adelaide's highest score in 24 matches against Melbourne, eclipsing 23.8 (146) in 1995.

Tackling fiercely and sharing the ball skilfully, Adelaide looked much more like the side that won 14 of its first 16 matches this season as it led by 18, 23 and 28 points at the three breaks before outscoring Melbourne 6.4 to 1.4 in the final term.

Melbourne, now in grave danger of losing fourth position to Sydney, Collingwood or St Kilda, had the worry of Brock McLean being reported by umpire Justin Schmitt for allegedly high contact on Scott Stevens late in the final quarter.

Stevens was crouched over the ball as McLean contacted him from the front, but replays indicated he had collected Stevens on the body rather than, or much more than, the head.

The Demons were hurt by the early loss of defender Clint Bartram, who injured his right ankle 10 minutes into the first quarter and left the field on a stretcher.

The delay and the scoring of 11 goals - seven to Adelaide, four to Melbourne - caused the first quarter to last 37 minutes and seven seconds - a stern test of stamina for the players under a hot sun.

And the second term went for almost 34 minutes, with Adelaide adding 5.5 to Melbourne's 5.0.

The Crows led by 32 points - 10.5 to 5.3 - nearly 10 minutes into the second quarter before the Demons fought back with a six-goals-to-two surge to cut the margin to just 11 points nearly four minutes into the third quarter.

Nathan Bock wasted the benefit of a 50-metre penalty just before half-time by missing a straightforward shot from close range. It would have given the Crows a 28-point lead.

Melbourne captain/full-forward David Neitz joined in the Demons' recovery by kicking the first two goals of the third term and another one late in the same quarter, after he had booted two in the opening quarter.

But Adelaide responded superbly and halted the Demons' charge by adding 5.2 to 2.3 for the remainder of the third quarter, with Matthew Clarke's long, accurate snap for the fourth of those five goals - after Matthew Bode's strong tackle on Cameron Bruce had forced a turnover - suggesting it was the Crows' day after all.

Colin Sylvia revived Melbourne's hopes with his second goal to start the final quarter, but Bock and Scott Welsh booted their third goals and Tyson Edwards got his first soon after, and, with a 40-point lead - 20.11 to 14.7 - Adelaide looked a certain winner at the 11-minute mark.

Bock and Ian Perrie (two goals in his 100th game) switched between full-forward and centre half-forward, with the elusive Welsh, who finished with five goals, in a pocket.

Over four quarters, Adelaide thrived on the midfield run and disposal of Simon Goodwin, Scott Thompson, Edwards and Jason Porplyzia, while Nathan Bassett, Graham Johncock and Martin Mattner shone in a desperate defence - and centre half-back Stevens ran forward for two goals.

Goodwin was frustrated by some close attention from Simon Godfrey in the first half before James McDonald went on to him.

Bruce, Brad Green, Travis Johnstone and Daniel Bell were the pick of the Melbourne runners, and Jeff White battled hard in the ruck and field play, although, overall, Clarke might have been the game's most influential ruckman at the bounces.

Adelaide coach Neil Craig said the win had come from 'an even team performance', and he added: "We needed that. We just have to have it because that's the way we play our best footy and that's the profile of our squad.

"All the credit needs to go to the playing group. They went about their business pretty well during the week, like they have for the last two or three weeks. The senior leadership group has driven that and (the response of) the playing group back to their senior group was put on show today.

"It's much better to go into the finals with that sort of result for us, particularly when you consider our form since round 17."

Melbourne coach Neale Daniher said: "We just haven't been able to bring our A-grade game to AAMI Stadium (where the Demons have a 3-10 record against the Crows). We just gave up too many easy goals.

"Any time we really put any challenge on the Crows scoreboard-wise, we'd find another way to give up (goals), whether it was a free kick or a 50-metre penalty. We were always able to give the Crows momentum in the game.

"Our ability to defend and our ability to move the ball from our back half was really poor."

ADELAIDE: 7.3, 12.8, 17.10, 23.14 (152)
MELBOURNE: 4.3, 9.3, 13.6, 14.10 (94)

GOALS – Adelaide: Welsh 5, Thompson 3, Bock 3, Perrie 2, Stevens 2, Bode, van Berlo, Porplyzia, Reilly, Doughty, Clarke, Douglas, Edwards
Melbourne: Neitz 5, Davey 2, Sylvia 2, Robertson, McLean, Jamar, White, McDonald
BEST – Adelaide: Thompson, Goodwin, Edwards, Bassett, Welsh Johncock, Porplyzia, Bock
Melbourne: Bruce, Johnstone, Neitz, Green, Bell, McLean, Ward
INJURIES – Adelaide: Reilly (adductor)
Melbourne: Bartram (sprained right ankle)
CHANGES – Adelaide: Nil
Melbourne: Holland (corked thigh) replaced in the selected side by Motlop
REPORTS - McLean reported for rough play on Stevens by umpire Schmitt
UMPIRES - Kennedy, Schmitt, Goldspink
CROWD - 41,364 at AAMI Stadium