First quarter: Melbourne 2.2 (14) to Adelaide 1.4 (10)

Melbourne started the match in positive fashion, kicking the first two goals.

Nathan Jones got the ball rolling at the nine-minute mark, before Cam Pedersen followed up, giving Melbourne a two-goal lead.

The Crows posted three behinds before Eddie Betts opened his side’s account just before time-on.

At quarter-time, Melbourne led by four points.

Jack Viney had 13 disposals in the first term and Michael Hibberd had 12 touches. Rory Laird had the most for the Crows with nine possessions.

Second quarter: Adelaide 6.7 (43) to Melbourne 5.3 (33)

After an even opening, Adelaide dominated the play before time-on. 

The Crows booted the first five goals – giving them six in succession from the 19-minute mark of the first term. The home side led by 28 points at the 18-minute mark, as Betts, Rory Laird and Taylor Walker all had a couple on the board.

Although the signs were ominous for the Demons, they hit back with three in a row from the 19-minute mark to cut the deficit to nine points.

Tom Bugg kicked off proceedings, before Jones landed his second and Bugg nailed his second at the 29-minute mark. Adelaide’s Josh Jenkins had the chance to kick his side’s sixth for the term, after the half-time siren, but his shot missed for a behind. It resulted in a 10-point lead to the Crows at the long break. 

Hibberd had 21 touches by half-time, as Laird had 22 for the Crows.

Third quarter: Melbourne 12.5 (77) to Adelaide 7.8 (50)

Melbourne continued its comeback with a remarkable third term, booting seven goals to one to lead by 27 points at three quarter-time.

It meant the Demons registered nine successive goals from the 19-minute mark of the second term until the 30-minute mark of the third quarter.

Tom McDonald kicked the first two goals of the second half, as Pedersen booted two for the term to have three by the final change. Jeff Garlett and Jack Viney also opened their tally. And Clayton Oliver threaded through an incredible banana goal, putting his nomination in for goal of the year.

Adelaide managed just one goal for the quarter – a second before the 32-minute mark – when Josh Jenkins landed one. Garlett had the chance to kick his second after the three quarter-time siren but his miss gave Melbourne its biggest lead at that point.

Hibberd had 28 disposals entering the final stanza, as Laird had 30.

Final quarter: Melbourne 17.5 (107) d Adelaide 9.12 (66)

Melbourne made it 12 out of 13 goals, when Garlett opened the final term with his second and Kent got on the board.

Kent's first made sure it was curtains for the Crows, when he put the Demons up by 39 points at the seven-minute mark.

Although Jenkins kicked Adelaide’s first of the final term at the 12-minute mark, Melbourne had the answers again, when Mitch Hannan replied to put the red and blue in front by 39 points.

Brodie Smith kicked Adelaide’s second to peg the margin back to 32 points, but when Christian Petracca got in on the act and Kent went bang with his second, Melbourne won by 41 points.

Hibberd had a game-high 34 possessions and Christian Salem had 31, while Clayton Oliver and Viney claimed 30 each. Laird was best for the Crows with 26 disposals.