Taylor Walker during the round six match between Adelaide and St Kilda at Adelaide Oval, April 18, 2026. Picture: Getty Images

VETERAN Adelaide forward Taylor Walker has booted five goals, including the late match-winner, in a nerve-jangling one-point triumph against St Kilda.

Adelaide recovered from a 26-point deficit early in the second quarter to log a 15.13 (103) to 15.12 (102) victory at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

CROWS v SAINTS Full match coverage and stats

The Crows move to three wins and three losses and ninth spot on the ladder while leaving the 13th-placed Saints (two wins, four defeats) in early strife.

Walker and Riley Thilthorpe (three goals) were ever-present dangers in attack and teammates Wayne Milera (29 disposals) and Josh Worrell (28, 11 marks) were standouts in defence.

St Kilda's Jack Sinclair collected a game-high 35 possessions, Jack Higgins kicked four majors, and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (28 touches), Callum Wilkie (31, 11 marks) and Darcy Wilson (24, two goals) were influential.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

After Adelaide's Ben Keays kicked the opening goal 90 seconds in, the Saints took complete control.

Sinclair amassed 17 disposals, star defender Callum Wilkie had 13 and took six marks, and Jack Higgins slotted two goals as the visitors raced to a 4.4 to 1.2 quarter-time lead.

08:12

Highlights: Adelaide v St Kilda

The Crows and Saints clash in round six of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

St Kilda's advantage stretched to 26 points early in the second quarter but then the tide turned drastically.

The Crows booted seven goals - including six consecutive - to one in a powerful retort.

05:03

Last two mins: Late goal not enough as Saints fall short of Crows

The thrilling final moments between Adelaide and St Kilda in round six

With Walker kicking two goals, and Josh Rachele and first-gamer Charlie Edwards making an imprint in the midfield, Adelaide created an eight-point half-time lead, 8.4 to 6.8.

The Crows' spree extended into the third stanza with the 35-year-old Walker slotting two goals in four minutes and winger Brayden Cook threading another with a stunning checkside snap from near the boundary line.

00:46

Rocket from the pocket: Cook dishes up something special

Brayden Cook slots a terrific banana from a tough angle as the Crows start the second half as they finished the first

Cook's brilliant effort put Adelaide 27 points up - and the Saints on the ropes.

But the visitors responded to their predicament with the next two goals, only for imposing Crow Thilthorpe to snag two quick majors as the hosts stretched their break to 29 points.

Yet again the Saints rallied, with Higgins kicking his third and a post-siren conversion from Tom De Koning reducing their three quarter-time deficit to 15 points.

00:41

'Worth every cent right now': TDK’s first comes up big

Tom De Koning kicks his first major for St Kilda on the three-quarter time siren and teammates come from everywhere to celebrate the moment

St Kilda scored the initial three goals of the final term to level scores with 12 minutes remaining.

Adelaide's Keays snapped accurately with a tick over six minutes left, giving the home side a seven-point cushion - only for Higgins to boot his fourth - and the Saints were one point down with four minutes left.

But after scores were again tied, an Alex Neal-Bullen point for the Crows was followed by Walker's fifth - a left foot snap.

00:48

‘How about that for a combo?’: Rankine feeds Rachele

Dangerous duo Izak Rankine and Josh Rachele combine to slot a ripper

Saint Mitch Owens goaled with 10 seconds left but his side fell agonisingly short.

A moving moment
After the loss of his brother Jaryd last week, Jordan Dawson sat out of Saturday's game but watched from a box at the ground, accompanied by wife Milly.  At the 12 minute mark of the first quarter a message of support went up on the scoreboard and sustained applause rang out around Adelaide Oval. Some may question the value of such tributes, but Dawson's emotional response to the outpouring of love from the Crows family to his was clear and showed the role football plays in the wider community.

00:37

Emotional scenes as Dawson brought to tears by ovation

Adelaide Oval sends its love to Jordan Dawson and his family after a tragic week, with the skipper visibly moved

Last in not necessarily first out
Taken with the Crows’ first selection, No.21 overall, at the 2023 draft, Charlie Edwards had to wait two and a half years before getting an AFL debut, but he showed he's up to the task ahead. Edwards finished with 18 disposals and five clearances, and the damage he did bursting out of the centre was a major factor in Adelaide’s mid-game comeback. Jordan Dawson and Jake Soligo will likely return next week, but it's not likely to be Edwards who makes way.

Charlie Edwards during the round six match between Adelaide and St Kilda at Adelaide Oval, April 18, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

ADELAIDE   1.2   8.4   13.7    15.13 (103)
ST KILDA    4.4   6.8   10.10   15.12 (102)

GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 5, Thilthorpe 3, Keays 2, Rankine, Rachele, Peatling, Maley, Cook
St Kilda: Higgins 4, Wilson 2, Butler 2, Owens 2, Wood, Sharman, Ryan, Hill, De Koning

BEST
Adelaide: Milera, Thilthorpe, Peatling, Worrell, Walker, Cook
St Kilda: Wilkie, Flanders, Wanganeen-Milera, Sinclair, Wilson, Higgins

INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
St Kilda: Nil

Crowd: 45,854 at Adelaide Oval