The Crows made the most of the chance offered to them by losses to North Melbourne and Collingwood, and appear almost certain of a double shot in the finals following their tense nine-point victory over the Bulldogs.
Adelaide ran out winners in the dour clash, 10.16 (76) to 9.13 (67). But it was a close thing.
The final term was a pulsating affair after the three-quarter time deadlock was broken by a hotly disputed goal to Jason Porplyzia. The Crows forward attempted to soccer the ball through after dropping a mark in the goal square, but the ball appeared to be rushed through by Bulldog Jason Akermanis.
Kurt Tippett marked and goaled soon after to give the Crows what appeared to be a match-winning lead, but Scott Welsh made the most of a 50m penalty against retiring Crow Nathan Basset to bring the Bulldogs back into the game.
When Ryan Griffen torpedoed a huge running goal through a vacant goal square from 80m, the margin was cut to just two points.
But a roved goal to Tyson Edwards, his third, took the lead back out to beyond a goal, a margin the Crows were able hold onto for the final nerve-racking eight minutes of the match.
Only a massive win by St Kilda over Essendon on Sunday could unseat Adelaide from fourth, with defending premiers Geelong looming large as the Crows likely first-round finals opponent.
The loss does not auger well for the Bulldogs, who go into next week's qualifying final against Hawthorn with just two wins from its last seven games.
Nevertheless, the Dogs started well and had just the better of a tight first two quarters to take a four-point lead into half time.
Goals were at a premium in the greasy conditions so to have three in the space of the opening four minutes was somewhat of a surprise.
The first two came the Bulldogs way thanks to good running shots from Jarrod Harbrow and Shaun Higgins.
The Crows hit back through Scott Thompson before the greasy conditions begun to slow the game down from its early frenetic pace, with another goal at each end taking the Bulldogs' quarter time lead to eight points.
Goals were hard to come by in the second term but as the temperature cooled, Bulldog's Brian Lake was temper was rising. His report for striking coincided with captain Brad Johnson leaving the field with a gashed head.
The incidents appeared to lift the Crows, with a goal to Nathan Van Berlo and a sensational hanger by Nick Gill bringing the capacity crowd to its feet.
A scrap-fest ensued, with both teams missing opportunities in the trying conditions until Gilbee drilled one through late in the quarter to grab the half time lead for
the visitors.
Jason Akermanis gave the Dogs a nice break with the first goal of the third term but Scott Stevens answered for the Crows, and in the process made up for his inexplicable miss from close range only moments earlier.
Boos turned to cheers when ex-Crow Scott Welsh missed a set shot after receiving a free kick for a high tackle. It was just part of a series of missed opportunities at both ends, which was finally broken when Edwards converted to bring the Crows to within a single point.
Robert Murphy converted well to stretch the Bulldogs lead again, but a horrendous decision to play on from a kick out by Lindsay Gilbee gifted another goal to Edwards to even the scores and set up the tense final term.
Adelaide 3.1 4.10 7.12 10.16 (76)
Western Bulldogs 4.3 5.8 7.12 9.13 (67)
GOALS
Adelaide: Edwards 3, Van Berlo 2, Porplyzia 2, Thompson, Stevens, Tippett
Western Bulldogs: Harbrow, Higgins, Giansiracusa, Gilbee, Eagleton, Murphy, Akermanis, Welsh, Griffen
BEST
Adelaide: Van Berlo, Edwards, Doughty, Thompson, Symes, Maric, Stevens, McLeod
Western Bulldogs: Cross, Giansiracusa, Eagleton, Gilbee, Akermanis
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Johnson (cut head) returned to field
Reports: Lake (Western Bulldogs) for high contact on Stevens (Adelaide)
Umpires: Vozzo, Meredith, McInerney
Official crowd: 37,545 at AAMI Stadium
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
