The Blues kicked the opening four goals of the game and never looked back in recording their first win against the Crows at the venue since 2004, 16.7 (103) to 6.19 (55).
Adelaide finished with more scoring shots but paid a hefty price for wayward kicking inside 50.
Carlton's small forwards had no such trouble at the other end, with Chris Yarran, Jeff Garlett and Eddie Betts combining for seven goals.
Ryan Houlihan also kicked three goals and Kade Simpson chimed in with two, but it was a vintage performance from skipper Chris Judd that inspired the Blues in the match-defining second quarter.
Judd quickly worked his way into form in just his first game of the season after suspension, picking up 12 of his 30 possessions in the second term.
The Brownlow medallist finished with nine tackles, six clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal to go with his 30 touches, and coach Brett Ratten said his superstar onballer would only get better with more game time.
Andrew Walker (36 possessions) and Marc Murphy (32) also found plenty of the ball, while Bernie Vince (31) and Andrew McLeod (26) were busiest for the Crows.
After kicking 10 of the game's first 13 goals, the Blues led by 44 points late in the third quarter.
The Crows clawed back to get within 25 points in the last term, but where Scott Thompson, Kurt Tippett and Graham Johncock missed, Ryan Houlihan and Garlett converted.
Adelaide was also off-target in front of goal in blustery conditions at the MCG last weekend, kicking 5.11.
After the game on Saturday veteran defender Michael Doughty described the Crows’ goalkicking as being below SANFL standard and coach Neil Craig agreed, saying that easy misses throughout the game had deflated his side’s confidence.
“There’s no doubt our goalkicking isn’t up to standard. The players kept at it with some spirit but it just keeps tearing you apart when you miss those sorts of opportunities,” Craig said.
The Crows, who considered themselves top-four contenders prior to the start of the season, remain winless after four rounds.
Craig conceded he was preparing to enter his toughest time as a coach, as his side tries to resurrect a season that once promised so much.
“It’s probably the most difficult time we’ll go through as a playing group and a coaching group. It’s not fine, don’t get me wrong, but that’s what we’ve got so we’ve got to make sure we utilise that this time the best that we possibly can and get as good as we can under the circumstances that we have,” he said.
The only positive for Adelaide was that it reported no new injuries out of the defeat. The Crows face the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
Adelaide 2.7 3.9 4.15 6.19 (55)
Carlton 5.1 10.4 12.5 16.7 (103)
GOALS
Adelaide: Thompson 2, Burton, Douglas, Knights, Walker
Carlton: Garlett 3, Houlihan 3, Yarran 3, Simpson 2, Betts, Henderson, Judd, O’hAilpin, Scotland
BEST
Adelaide: Vince, Edwards, Knights, McLeod
Carlton: Murphy, Walker, Judd, Simpson, Houlihan, Yarran, Garlett
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Carlton: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Wenn, Avon, Mollison
Official crowd: 38,321 at AAMI Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
