Adelaide got the win it needed to respond from last week's Showdown loss, but it wasn't without a scare after West Coast made a late charge at Optus Stadium, before falling 25 points short on Friday night. 

The Crows did their work early, racing to a 43-point lead in the second quarter and keeping their opponents at arm's length, until a tight final term led to the Eagles cutting the margin to 18 points. 

Crows Captain Jordan Dawson stood up under pressure, however, and steered the visitors to a 15.9 (99) to 11.8 (74) win, while Ben Keays iced the game with a pair of late goals.

The Eagles had their chances, dominating the first 10 minutes of the final term and locking the ball in their front half with the first 13 inside-50s, but the Crows were stable enough in defence to secure the win and stay in touch with the top four. 

Dawson was critical in the big moments and finished with an equal game-high 27 disposals, nine inside-50s and a goal, with his intercept marks in defence just as important as what he did in the front half.

Midfield star Izak Rankine was electric with 27, seven clearances and a goal, while key forward Darcy Fogarty (four goals) and Keays (three) did the damage in attack after Riley Thilthorpe was withdrawn pre-game with illness. 

Breakout ruckman Lachlan McAndrew had an entertaining battle with Bailey Williams, as both teams fought for ascendency in the midfield.

McAndrew finished with 38 hit-outs, giving his team dominance at stoppages early, before the clearance battle evened up. 

West Coast star Harley Reid (23 and six clearances) played his heart out and looked like sparking the Eagles through the fourth term, but he missed several chances, kicking 0.4. 

Eagles key forwards Jake Waterman and Jobe Shanahan each kicked three goals, while mid-season recruit Oliver Francou made an eye-catching debut with 18 disposals and nine tackles. 

Both teams entered Friday night's clash under some pressure and needing to respond in the midfield after disappointing stoppage performances in their respective losses last week. 

Adelaide got to work at the coalface quicker and had its first goal in 16 seconds after a quick centre clearance win, kicking the first four of the game and racing to a 24-point lead as McAndrew and captain Dawson did maximum damage in the middle. 

The Eagles were forced to put young star Shanahan loose behind the ball to stop the onslaught, but it didn't help at centre ball-ups, with the Crows winning that indicator 7-1 for the quarter and kicking three of their six goals from the source. 

Fogarty had three and quickly added a fourth in the second quarter as the Crows built a 42-point lead before the Eagles rolled up their sleeves and responded, winning contested ball (36-30) and clearances (9-8) for the quarter. 

Waterman converted a tricky set shot, Shanahan rolled one home from long range cleverly, and Duursma was crafty under a high ball to draw a free kick and convert his set shot, cutting the margin to 30 points at the main break.  

As good as the Eagles were through the third quarter with their pressure and intent, they couldn't bridge the five-goal gap, with Adelaide punishing their skill errors to keep control of the scoreboard. 

Reid lifted and had eight disposals for the quarter, but the Crows' stars matched him, with Rankine booting a terrific goal when he danced from the inside to the outside and snapped a classy goal. 

The lead got back out to 42 points before Shanahan booted back-to-back goals on the eve of three-quarter time.

SCOREBOARD

WEST COAST  1.3 4.5 8.8 11.8 (74)
ADELAIDE      6.2 9.5 13.8 15.9 (99)

GOALS
West Coast: Shanahan 3, Waterman 3, Allan, Cole, Duursma, Starcevich, J.Williams.
Adelaide: Fogarty 4, Keays 3, Soligo 2, Curtin, Dawson, T.Murray, Neal-Bullen, Rachele, Rankine.

BEST
West Coast: Shanahan, Reid, Waterman, Herbert, Francou.
Adelaide: Dawson, Rankine, Fogarty, McAndrew, Curtin, Hall-Kahan, Laird.

LATE CHANGES
West Coast: Nil
Adelaide: Riley Thilthorpe (illness), replaced in the selected side by Billy Dowling