ADELAIDE has quite literally rained on Port Adelaide and Ken Hinkley's parade, demolishing the Power by 98 points in the coach's last Showdown at a sodden Adelaide Oval.
The Crows temporarily occupy top spot on the ladder after yet another percentage-boosting victory, with Riley Thilthorpe securing his first Showdown Medal in the 20.13 (133) to 5.5 (35) win, the largest in AFL history between the two sides.
Adelaide is the in-form side of the competition, and signs had looked worrying for the Power when Miles Bergman kicked off the game by delivering a sizzling pass into the opposition forward line.
Port Adelaide's undersized defence were struggling against the triple-prong forward line of Thilthorpe, Taylor Walker and Darcy Fogarty, and the inside 50s were piling up, but the Crows were unable to take full advantage with some inaccurate efforts.
The Power kicked three quick goals just before the first break – the final of the trio a stunning slips mark and needle-threader from Jed McEntee – but that was Hinkley's side's last hurrah for the next one-and-a-half quarters.
The rain came down in earnest in the second term, and soccers, torps and ponchos on the hill were the order of the night, with wet conditions for the rest of the match.
Connor Rozee had come into the game under an injury cloud with a broken hand, but proved his mettle with a number of smothers of a heavy, water-logged ball.
It was to no avail as Adelaide found moments of composure in the heavy downpour, kicking four goals for the term – including an absolute bullet from the boot of Thilthorpe – to take a handy 29-point lead into the main break.
Rozee was moved into the middle to start the third term, swapping with Bergman, but he may as well have stayed at half-back such was the weight of numbers living in Adelaide's forward half.
The Crows were well-structured and disciplined behind the footy, setting up perfectly to lock the ball in their attacking half, and clearing the ball calmly in tough conditions, led by Rory Laird and Wayne Milera.
Zak Butters tried his heart out with a game-high 12 clearances, Aliir Aliir battled really hard, but the most telling stat was that the Power had only taken two marks inside 50 at the start of the fourth term.
Jake Soligo and Jordan Dawson worked hard through the midfield for the Crows, while Ben Keays was a constant, buzzing threat across half-forward and strong linking player.
Important Adelaide lockdown defender Max Michalanney was subbed out in the third term with a hamstring injury, while Lachie Jones' night ended early with a corkie, having battled fairly well against a much taller Fogarty up until that point.
