TAYLOR Walker's emotional six-goal haul has lifted Adelaide to a 56-point win over GWS and securely into the AFL's top six 

The Crows avoided the wildcard finals after Walker and Izak Rankine (35 touches, four goals) starred in a 24.13 (157) to 15.11 (101) triumph on Saturday night.

CROWS v GIANTS Full match coverage and stats

Adelaide hold fifth spot overnight, but will slip to sixth should Hawthorn's expected win over lowly West Coast on Sunday eventuate.

Veteran forward Walker was playing his last home-and-away game for the Crows, after announcing his looming retirement.

And after a prolonged pre-game tribute, the 36-year-old kicked three goals in the initial 10 minutes to delight an adoring 52,332-strong Adelaide crowd.

Rankine dazzled, kicking two specials and creating two more goals, and Riley Thilthorpe bombed two accurate 55m set shots.

The Giants lost key backman Sam Taylor, ruled out with concussion after a knock in a marking contest.

GWS rallied in the second term, kicking six goals to two to reduce their halftime deficit to 21 points.

Jake Stringer, in his 250th AFL game and possibly last with the Giants, booted three goals to halftime as the Crows lost small forward Zac Taylor to a hamstring injury.

Stringer slotted his fourth with another spectacular effort early in the third quarter, and the visitors were only 16 points down.

But Adelaide rapidly responded, with Walker collecting two more majors and Josh Rachele slotting two in a minute.

Stringer potted his fifth goal late in the term, but the Crows were a commanding 35 points up at three-quarter time, 17.8 to 10.9.

Rankine soon added another highlight to his monster game with a classy third goal - he also had 12 clearances and 10 score involvements.

His teammates Thilthorpe, Darcy Fogarty and Ben Keays also booted three majors each in Adelaide's highest score of the season.

Captain Jordan Dawson (32 disposals) was a standout, and Dan Curtin's 23 touches included five clearances and a goal.

The Giants, despite Stringer finishing with six goals and the efforts of Clayton Oliver (25 possessions), Lachie Ash (26) and Lachie Whitfield (21), end a disappointing season in 12th spot, with 10 wins and 13 losses.

Tex's final home and away game
There wasn't a dry eye at Adelaide Oval as Crows fans celebrated Tex Walker in his final home-and-away game for the club. Walker booted six majors in a fitting performance for the 318-game player, who is the No.1 goal-kicker in Crows history. With a top six spot locked up, the Adelaide legend earns a much-needed week off before the Crows' finals campaign kicks off. Perhaps the most pleasing sign was the performances of Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty, who will be relied upon to shoulder the load against the competition's best defenders in September. 

Stringer shines in game 250
Stringer saved one of his best for last. The veteran forward played his 250th AFL game in his final appearance for the Giants, kicking six goals at Adelaide Oval to sign off as GWS' leading goalkicker for 2026 with 48 majors for the season. "The Package" will turn 33 in his 15th AFL season and, while he won't be expected to fill a No. 1 forward role, he will arrive at his fourth club in outstanding form with no shortage of premiership contenders lining up for his signature.

Rankine all set for blistering finals campaign
Few players are in the form Izak Rankine is right now. Since round 21, his stat lines read: 21 disposals and three goals, 36 disposals and one goal, 39 disposals and one goal, and 35 disposals and four goals. The superstar midfielder missed last year's finals campaign through suspension, which cost the minor premiers dearly, but he now looms as one of, if not the best player in the competition heading into September.

ADELAIDE                         9.2   11.5  17.8   24.13 (157)
GWS                                   1.4    7.8   11.9   15.11 (101)

GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 6, Rankine 4, Thilthorpe 3, Fogarty 3, Keays 3, Rachele 2, McAndrew, Cumming, Curtin 
GWS: Stringer 6, Cadman 2, Rowston, Hamilton, Gruzewski, Greene, Brown, Madden, O'Halloran 

BEST
Adelaide: Rankine, Walker, Keays, Thilthorpe, Dawson
GWS: Stringer, Greene, Oliver, Ash 

INJURIES
Adelaide: Taylor (Hamstring)
GWS: Taylor (Concussion)

Crowd: 52,332 at Adelaide Oval