Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says he hopes Jordan Dawson was proud of the way his club battled to victory in his honour on Saturday night.

The Crows, in Dawson’s absence, overturned a 26-point St Kilda first-half lead and defended grimly in the last quarter to conjure a one-point win at Adelaide Oval.

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Skipper Dawson didn’t play on Saturday night following the tragic passing of his brother Jaryd midweek, instead watching from a box with partner Millie.

The 29-year-old was overcome with emotion during Adelaide’s heartfelt tribute for Jaryd at the 12-minute mark of the first quarter.

Nicks, speaking on Fox Footy in the Crows’ rooms post-game, reflected on the evening and the brutal week that was.

“It’s not an easy one for me to talk to, to be honest,” a candid Nicks began on Fox Footy.

“The 12-minute mark (tribute), I didn’t actually know that was going (to happen); I thought it was beautiful, just the respect that is here.

“Footy clubs are a great place to be when you have moments like these and (when) you go through tough times.

“We’re all there for the Dawson family and all the extended family. It has been a really, really tough week.

“It was great to have Jordan and Millie in the rooms pre-game tonight; that was really tough for them, but it was good to have them around the group.

“And for the guys to get up, too. He (Dawson) just wanted to see us play the way we play, and we put it out there for most of the game, so we should be proud of ourselves, and hopefully he is.”

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After the Saints burst out of the blocks to kick five of the game’s first six goals, Adelaide went on a nine-goal unanswered run across the second and third quarters to put itself in a winning position at three-quarter-time.

Asked by club icon Mark Ricciuto about the draining week and whether the Crows’ slow start on Saturday night had anything to do with it, Nicks acknowledged that may well have been the case.

“We’ve been pretty poor in a lot of first quarters; we’re trying to get to the bottom of that, Roo,” he said.

“But maybe. Maybe it took a toll. You just don’t know when you come into these games.

“There was an incredible energy in the room — it’s amazing how sometimes tragedies like this almost bring some energy and give you that, maybe, belief.

“I don’t know. You don’t know what you’ve burnt during the week as far as energy goes, and whether that saps you when you first get out there.”

In the immediate post-match, Taylor Walker reflected on the circumstances in an on-field interview with Fox Footy’s Kath Loughnan.

“It’s been a pretty challenging week for our footy club and for ‘Daws’ and his family,” Walker said.

“So it was pretty special to be able to come out here and get the four points. When things like this happen in life, the best places to be are footy clubs.

“We’ve got amazing people and an amazing amount of care and support.

“We’re going to wrap our arms around ‘Daws’ and (his wife) Millie, (his parents) Tony and Marian and (his sister) Chloe, for a long time.

“It will be nice to get the skipper back when he’s ready. This is for all the Dawson family.”

Asked about the crowd tribute early in the first term, Walker called the moment “special” on the field.

“We’re in an industry that, no matter what club you play at, we wrap our arms around everyone. We’re able to show so much support,” he said.

“It’s a pretty special moment. As I said, that’s one for the Dawson family.”