First quarter: Adelaide Crows 7.2 (44) to Melbourne 1.3 (9)
As has been the case several times this year, Melbourne had a slow opening term.
The Crows dominated on the scoreboard, with nine shots to four.
Jake Melksham was Melbourne’s only goalscorer – at the nine-minute mark – as Adelaide booted seven goals for the term.
Taylor Walker and David Mackay, who booted the first goal, kicked two majors each.
At quarter-time, Adelaide led by 35 points.
Second quarter: Adelaide Crows 11.6 (72) to Melbourne 5.3 (33)
Melbourne got the start it wanted – and needed – when it landed the opening two goals of the second term.
Dean Kent got the ball rolling at the two-minute mark and a couple of minutes later, Christian Petracca was on the board.
Although the Demons reeled the margin back to 23 points, the Crows answered with four of the next six goals to lead by 39 points at half-time.
Melksham kicked two more for the quarter to have three by the long break. Both goals were beauties – a dribble kick from the pocket and a long bomb that bounced through.
Jordan Lewis (15 disposals) had the most touches for the Demons by the main change.
Third quarter: Adelaide Crows 12.11 (83) to Melbourne 9.7 (61)
Adelaide extended its lead to 47 points after they kicked 1.2 to start the third term.
However, Melbourne started to slowly get its way back into the match, which began with Clayton Oliver's goal at the nine-minute mark.
Six behinds followed – three from the Crows and two from the Demons – before Melbourne booted three in time-on.
Max Gawn got the first at the 24-minute mark and Alex Neal-Bullen followed up a minute later.
But when Jayden Hunt unleashed with a Malcolm Blight-like bomb from 60 to 70 metres after the three quarter-time siren Melbourne had cut the deficit to 22 points.
Final quarter: Adelaide Crows 17.14 (116) d Melbourne 10.10 (70)
Although Crow Tom Lynch kicked the first of the final term, Melbourne replied via Tom McDonald to keep its hopes alive.
The Demons trailed by 20 points at the seven-minute mark and were still within reach.
But when Adelaide kicked the next five in a row, the top of the ladder Crows prevailed.
Walker booted two for the term to finish with four goals, as Lynch finished with three for the night.
In the end, Melbourne went down by 46 points. To cap off a disappointing night, Dean Kent went off with a shoulder injury and Bernie Vince was reported.
