Adelaide has escaped with a 13-point come-from-behind win over the Brisbane Lions in a scrappy contest at the Gabba on Saturday night.
The Crows were well below their best for three quarters against the Lions, but dug deep to reel in a 24-point fourth term deficit and earn a much needed 11.16 (82) to 10.9 (69) win.
Adelaide now moves to seventh on the ladder with a 7-5 record, just 0.3 per cent behind Richmond.
The win may have come at a cost however, with midfielder Rory Sloane subbed in the third term with a suspected fractured cheekbone. The star Crow suffered a similar injury earlier in the season.
Captain Taylor Walker booted 2.5 for the game but all was forgiven when the burly forward rediscovered his radar in the fourth stanza, slotting a 50m goal in the 21st minute to hand Adelaide the lead for the first time.
In the end Adelaide kicked six straight majors and kept a gutsy Lions goalless in the final term to notch a crunch win.
Adelaide's second victory in three games was a much needed shot in the arm ahead of a tough block of games that may define the Crows’ top eight chances - Geelong (home), West Coast (away) and Port Adelaide (away).
It was another disappointing fadeout for the Lions who had hoped to snap a four-game losing run and notch their third win of the year and first since May 17.
The Lions have lost seven of their past eight at home, their worst run in five years.
Lions midfielder Pearce Hanley was subbed off in the third term and quickly began icing his knee.
The Lions kicked the first four goals of the match to jump to a 25-point lead before the Crows reduced the first term deficit to just 12.
By half-time, the Lions led 6.5 (41) to 3.6 (24) thanks to a Hanley goal from a wonderful weaving run.
The half-time crowd saluted Lions defender Matt Maguire who announced his retirement this week due to ongoing concussion problems.
ADELAIDE 2.3 3.6 5.13 11.16 (82)
BRISBANE LIONS 4.3 6.5 10.7 10.9 (69)
GOALS
Adelaide: Betts 2, Jenkins 2, Walker 2, van Berlo, Cameron, Wright, Smith, Thompson
Brisbane Lions: Bourke 2, Leuenberger 2, Hanley, Christensen, Robinson, Redden, Taylor, Zorko
BEST
Adelaide: Thompson, Crouch, Cameron, Laird, Jenkins, Talia
Brisbane Lions: Zorko, Taylor, Robinson, Beams, Paparone, Leuenberger
INJURIES
Adelaide: Sloane (suspected fractured cheekbone)
Brisbane Lions: Hanley (hamstring)
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Cam Ellis-Yolmen replaced Rory Sloane in the third quarter
Brisbane Lions: Tom Cutler replaced Pearce Hanley in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Jeffery, Mitchell, Wallace
Official crowd: 18,146 at the Gabba
