Second-gamer Riley Knight believes Adelaide’s spirited Showdown win has lifted “a huge weight” off the shoulders of the Crows players.

Adelaide survived a late surge from the Power to claim Showdown XXXIX by three points on Sunday. It was the Club’s first win since the tragic loss of Senior Coach Phil Walsh just over a fortnight ago.

Knight made his AFL debut in the emotion-charged match against West Coast last weekend, and said the mood on Sunday was the complete opposite to his first, unique experience at the level.

“It’s definitely a huge win considering everything that’s happened in the last two weeks. It’s a very special win for the playing group,” Knight said on Monday.

“Once we won the game, there was a sense of relief and a sense of achievement for Phil there as well … the mood after the game was really special and a huge weight lifted off their (the players’) shoulders.

“Now, it enables us to move on a little bit and get our minds back on playing finals footy. The brand of footy we played yesterday is what we’ve been trying to play all year.

“To be able to play that sort of footy in such a tough game in terms of the intensity and the pressure (was pleasing).”

Knight impressed again, helping to set the tone for the match with his tackling and work rate.

The 20-year-old half-forward gathered 10 possessions, took four marks and laid three tackles. He also kicked a goal and assisted in another.

Knight’s goal came in the second quarter as a result of his trademark gut running. The Clare product sprinted 80 metres towards goal and took a strong overhead mark against Brad Ebert as the Crows punished Port on a turnover.

Knight admitted to having some nerves on the big Showdown stage, but said the team’s leaders had helped him settle into the game.

“To be honest, it was pretty intense at the start. The ball was moving pretty quick again,” he said.

“We had some great leadership out there with ‘Tex’, Daniel Talia and ‘Thommo’, blokes with years of experience. They just calmed the nerves and kept reinforcing the fundamentals. It was good to have them there, getting me through it.

“Then in the last quarter when Port were coming hard, (the noise) was just ringing in your ears. It was like when you go to a (night) club or something when the music is so loud. It was unreal and sent shivers down your spine.

“To be able to experience that and come away with a win at the end of it was indescribable.”

Knight was one of six Crows with fewer than 20 games of AFL experience on Sunday.

Defenders Kyle Hartigan (19 games) and Jake Lever (six games) assumed key roles when All Australian Daniel Talia was concussed in the second quarter.

Hartigan moved onto Power spearhead Jay Schulz, while Lever had to wrestle with a white-hot Paddy Ryder, who kicked three first-half goals, as well as the dangerous Justin Westhoff.

“Credit to the younger boys in the backline,” Knight said.

“Those boys that don’t have much experience, for them to stand up and take on a bigger role was unreal. It was a great effort by everyone.”

Knight said the late Walsh had given the young Crows the confidence to play at the highest level.

“Phil had a huge role to play (in my development) … he just kept reinforcing that if you worked hard and did everything that he wanted, you would be picked regardless of who was above you or experience,” he said.

“For him to debut Jake Kelly, Jake Lever and myself and persist with the younger guys is a huge credit to his word and the way he went about it.

“I loved playing under him and am shattered that he’s gone, but hopefully we can continue his legacy in the years to come.”

Knight was hopeful the Showdown win would be a defining moment in Adelaide’s season, saying it was “crucial” the Crows backed up with a strong performance against Gold Coast on Saturday.

“We talk about playing finals footy and not making the season a write-off,” Knight said.

“To be able to put in two strong performances in a row will be a challenge but the players are feeling really confident and looking forward to this week.”