Having earned an instant recall to the in-form Adelaide team after three weeks on the sidelines with a broken hand, Bernie Vince knew he had to make his comeback count.

And he did.

Vince avoided the green vest often handed to players returning from injury, starting the match in a slightly different role across half-forward.

Sporting a glove on his previously damaged left hand, the 2009 best and fairest winner started strongly, getting on the end of a ‘coast-to-coast’ play from a kick-in in the opening quarter to slot his first goal.

By half time, Vince had kicked three majors, including a flying mid-air kick in the goal square to put the Crows 15 points ahead late in the second term.

“I think the ball hit me in the face,” Vince said with a laugh.

He finished the match - close to his best of the season - with 20 possessions and eight marks to go with his three goals.

Players from both sides started cramping in the third quarter of the fast-paced match and Vince said he too felt the pinch after a three-week absence.

“We had a pretty big first half. The work rate was up and it was a quick game. I felt it a little bit in the second half, but I’ll be stronger for that,” Vince said.

“My hand was fine. I had to wear a guard, which was actually pretty hard to keep on. I felt a little bit silly wearing the glove, but these are the things you’ve got to do.”

Vince was one of 10 goalkickers in Adelaide’s 69-point win over Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The emphatic victory was the Club’s first in Victoria since round 22, 2009.

“We didn’t really focus on that record. I didn’t actually realise we hadn’t won here in nearly three years,” Vince said.

“We’ve got that hoodoo out of the way and move onto next week. Three weeks ago we knew we had a tough run of games coming up, so to be able to win the first three is fantastic.

“We’ll look forward to Collingwood next week and then Fremantle away, which is another tough one. We can’t rest on our laurels now.”

The Crows set-up the win over the Blues with their midfield dominance.

Led by influential onballers Patrick Dangerfield (35 possessions, eight clearances and two goals), Scott Thompson (31 possessions, 10 clearances and a goal) and Rory Sloane (24 possessions and four clearances), the visitors won the clearances 48-42, the inside 50ms 50-41 and contested possession 151-123.

Skipper Nathan van Berlo also played a crucial role, limiting Carlton star Marc Murphy to five possessions before he was injured in a heavy collision with Dangerfield in the second term.

Van Berlo then moved onto dual Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd, who finished with 24 touches - a modest return by his lofty standards. Ex-Blues rookie Sam Jacobs also starred against his old side, collecting 38 hit-outs and providing a strong presence around the ground.

“I thought Danger’s game was absolutely fantastic,” Vince said.

“Some of his contests were unbelievable. I don’t know how many possessions he finished with, but he was on fire and should be proud of the way he’s going about his footy at the moment.

“VB’s got a huge role to play each week and seems to get better and better. His job on Murphy was outstanding … and then to roll over onto Judd and do the job there as well was good for us.

“We had a focus on that (winning the midfield battle). We’re No.1 in the competition for contested possession and clearances, so we weren’t worrying too much about them it was more about us and what we do well.”