Spearhead Taylor Walker kicked four goals in the 16.8 (104) to 15.10 (100) win but the Bombers missed some vital chances to steal the game in the dying seconds.
Watch the final two minutes of Sunday's nailbiter
Captain Jobe Watson kicked wide from 30m and Tayte Pears dropped a mark he probably should have taken, with coach James Hird frustrated the side was so close to a fifth interstate win of the season.
Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson said while his team didn't play to the level fans had come to expect, it was pleasing they still found a way to win, something that could be vital come finals time.
"This gives us the confidence that we can win the close ones," Sanderson said.
"That's the third time this year we've won a game by less than 10 points. We've shown that we can win the close ones when it matters."
Five talking points: Adelaide v Essendon
As well as Walker's four goals, Patrick Dangerfield booted three and had 29 disposals in a best-on-ground performance while skipper Nathan Van Berlo was inspirational at times and ruckman Sam Jacobs did well, taking key marks around the ground.
For the Bombers, Watson had 31 touches Jason Winderlich kicked four goals before leaving the field with a hamstring injury, adding to the team's long list of soft tissue injuries in just his second game back from a knee reconstruction.
Leroy Jetta also played well along with Nathan Lovett-Murray, while Alex Browne chipped in with two important goals.
Hird said he was proud of the team's effort against Adelaide but conceded it needed to win soon to shore up its spot in the top eight.
"We've won 11 and I think you have to win 13 to expect to make it," Hird said.
"But as a coach you learn very quickly not to look past the next week."
"We know it's going to be tough but these boys have come up every week and given it a real crack."
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Essendon certainly had a crack against Adelaide in the opening half with Winderlich booting three of his four goals before the break to give the Bombers a 22-point lead.
The Crows stormed back into contention in the third term, booting seven goals to three to take a one-goal lead into the final term.
Essendon had the bulk of the play in the final quarter, bringing the ball inside 50m on 21 occasions but failed to capitalise.
For the Crows, Graham Johncock and Walker kicked vital majors, allowing Adelaide to hang on for its 14th win of the season and take second spot on the ladder.
ADELAIDE 4.2 6.3 13.7 16.8 (104)
ESSENDON 5.4 9.7 12.7 15.10 (100)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 4, Dangerfield 3, Johncock, Jenkins 2, Jacobs, Sloane, Porplyzia, Riley, van Berlo
Essendon: Winderlich 4, Browne, Gumbleton 2, Colyer, Dempsey, Davey, Hurley, Jetta, Lonergan, Watson
BEST
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Thompson, Sloane, Talia, Douglas, Walker
Essendon: Watson, Dempsey, Lovett-Murray, Browne, Carlisle, Heppell
INJURIES
Adelaide: Porplyzia (shoulder)
Essendon: Howlett (hamstring), Winderlich (hamstring)
Substitutes
Adelaide: Richard Tambling replaced Jason Porplyzia in the third quarter.
Essendon: Henry Slattery replaced Ben Howlett in the second quarter.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Kamolins, Hay
Official crowd: 40,030 at AAMI Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
