Riley Thilthorpe's career-best six goals have spearheaded a crucial 11-point win for Adelaide over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon.

The 16.13 (109) to 15.8 (98) win at Marvel Stadium consolidated the Crows' top-four berth with six rounds left and leaves the Bulldogs in danger of dropping out of the top eight.

Thilthorpe, an imposing figure in the Adelaide attack, took nine marks.

It is Adelaide's third straight win at Marvel Stadium as it zeroes in on a first finals appearance since 2017.

The Bulldogs didn't give up, kicking five goals to two in the last term, but they fell too far behind when the Crows held a game-high lead of 32 points early in the final quarter.

Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli was mighty with a game-high 37 possessions, and his counterpart Jordan Dawson also was outstanding in the midfield, while Dogs key forward Aaron Naughton kicked five goals.

The first half was a tale of key forwards - Naughton kicked all of the Bulldogs' three goals in the first term and added his fourth in the second.

Then Thilthorpe made life tough for the Bulldogs defence with four goals in the second quarter.

There was no love lost between Naughton and his opponent, combative Irishman Mark Keane.

When Naughton kicked his fifth from a free kick off the ball in the third term, he immediately went over to Keane, which sparked a melee.

The Crows slowly pulled clear of the Bulldogs, leading by 19 at the main break, then 27 points at the final change.

SCOREBOARD

WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.1 7.3 10.6 15.8 (98)

ADELAIDE CROWS 4.2 10.4 14.9 16.3 (109)

GOALS:

BULLDOGS: Naughton 5, Richards, Darcy 2, West, Sanders, O'Donnell, Hynes, Davidson, Bramble, 1

CROWS: Thilthorpe 6, Fogarty 3, Walker, Dawson 2, Rankine, Curtin, Cumming 1