Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks welcomed his side’s capacity to prevail in a finals-like “arm wrestle” with a fellow top-four aspirant after the Crows leapfrogged Melbourne with a gritty 17-point win on Saturday.
After a virtual 100-minute arm wrestle and trailing narrowly at each break, Adelaide powered to the finish line with a commanding, if inaccurate, 3.7 to 1.0 fourth quarter.
Mark Keane, Rory Laird and Wayne Milera had big moments behind the ball, while Josh Rachele booted three goals.
Matthew Nicks and Taylor Walker after the Crows’ hard-fought win over the Demons.AFL Photos