A lot needs to go right for Adelaide to punch their finals ticket, but the Crows are starting to look like the side we thought they would be at the start of the season.

The Crows put in a brilliant performance to edge out Port Adelaide by three points in a Showdown 45 thriller on Saturday.

All the talk is about the goal review system that awarded Josh Jenkins the go-ahead goal, but as Ken Hinkley stressed in his post-game comments, the Crows were the better side. They won almost every key stat – contested possessions (+17), inside 50s (+22), tackles (+18) and clearances (+10).

Bryce Gibbs, Matt Crouch and Rory Sloane were brilliant, Jenkins had a massive first half and Wayne Milera continues to shine across half-back.

With Richard Douglas and Mitch McGovern set to return to face Greater Western Sydney in Canberra on Saturday night, the Crows are close to full strength, something that hasn't been able to be said almost all year.