In the end, the Crows withstood what is becoming a trademark fast finish by the Blues to retain their place in the top eight with an eight-point win, 13.16 (94) to 12.14 (86).
After enduring the loss of star forward Jason Porplyzia and midfielder Chris Knights in the first half, the Crows blew the game open with a match-winning third quarter, kicking six goals to two (including three to third-gamer Brad Moran) to take a 24-point lead into the last quarter.
It was a gap that proved too great to straddle, even with Carlton's impressive fourth-quarter record of recent times.
Not that the Blues didn't give it a crack. Three goals in as many minutes brought them to within two straight kicks and set-up a nail-biting final 10 minutes in which Carlton's constant attacks were repelled with increasing desperation by a home team spurred on by the vocal locals who'd packed the stands despite the grey skies and drizzle.
The effort was supreme but ultimately not enough for the Blues, whose last six scores were all behinds, and are now running out of games to make a late run at the finals.
Robert Shirley was a stand-out for Adelaide, restricting star Blue Chris Judd to just 15 disposals and kicking two important goals himself. Nathan Van Berlo, with a career-high 40 touches, and Tyson Edwards (22 disposals, two goals) were also super, particularly when the game was up for grabs.
Heath Scotland was indefatigable for the Blues, gathering 27 touches and a goal, while Andrew Walker (25 disposals) and Nick Stevens (32) also contributed well.
In many ways, it was the loss of Porplyzia -- a leading light for the Crows this season -- that was the turning point of the match. The Crows were behind on the scoreboard and were being outplayed by a slicker opponent when their skilful forward was collected in an off-the-ball incident by young Blue Steven Browne midway through the second quarter.
The clash lacked malice but was enough to concuss Porplyzia (whose injured shoulder had already received its fair share of attention) who was stretchered from the ground as his teammates remonstrated with the Carlton players.
The Crows surged, kicking two goals and briefly grabbing the lead before a Simon Wiggins goal kept Carlton's nose in front by a solitary point at half time.
Carlton had injury concerns itself at the main break, with goalsneak Eddie Betts succumbing to a hamstring injury and taking no part in the second half action.
But it wasn't all the stuff of melodrama. The newly re-signed Brendan Fevola kicked five goals for the Blues and perhaps would have kicked six had he not decided to play on after marking close to half time. The spearhead lost his feet when he tripped on another body; that of the umpire, who himself had gone to the deck on the greasy AAMI Stadium surface.
Play was allowed to continue, much to Fevola's chagrin, and the Crows swept the ball forward for a goal to unlikely target Moran, who finished the day with four goals -- comedy and tragedy delivered in one neat package.
When the full-time siren sounded, though, the tears were all Blue while the Crows could laugh for another week at least.
Adelaide 1.7 6.11 12. 14 13.6 (94)
Carlton 4.4 7.6 9.8 12.14 (86)
GOALS
Adelaide: Moran 4, Maric 2, Shirley 2, Edwards 2, Gill, Mackay, Porplyzia
Carlton: Fevola 5, Scotland, Fisher, Walker, Cloke, Wiggins, Stevens, Simpson
BEST
Adelaide: Shirley, Edwards, van Berlo, Moran, Massie, Doughty, McLeod
Carlton: Scotland, Waite, Fevola, Stevens, Carazzo, Gibbs
INJURIES
Adelaide: Porplyzia (concussion), Knights (hamstring)
Carlton: Betts (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: H. Ryan, S. Meredith, S. McInerney
Crowd: 40,730 at AAMI Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.
