ADELAIDE has shown 2019 won't be another wasted year, riding an impressive performance by co-captain Taylor Walker to defeat St Kilda by 29 points at Marvel Stadium.

It was the Crows' ninth straight win over the Saints and Walker excelled, booting four goals to level his side's season at 3-3.

Coming off a disastrous campaign, when the Crows followed up a Grand Final appearance by missing out on September action, their year seemed in a dire position the last time they were at the Docklands venue, looking lost in a dismal showing as they fell to lowly North Melbourne.

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However, after thumping Gold Coast last week, Don Pyke's men overcame a slow start on Saturday to beat the tenacious Saints 15.7 (97) to 10.8 (68).

The Crows' efficiency in front of goals helped keep them in the contest early, not missing until Hugh Greenwood's behind with under eight minutes left in the opening half.

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Walker started on fire, showing his aerial strength with a nice pack grab in the opening term, and then his class with a left-foot goal later on.

Mature-age draftee Matthew Parker brought his brilliance for St Kilda on several occasions. He snapped an outstanding goal before leaping and taking a screamer with the main break looming, converting accurately and keeping his side in touch.

That wasn't the highest he flew for the game though, sitting on Rory Laird's shoulders in the third term and putting another critical goal through.

It was in defence where the Crows really shone, dominating in the air. Alex Keath starred once again down back, taking 14 marks and keeping Tim Membrey quiet, while Daniel Talia and Rory Laird also stood up.

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Unsurprisingly, the Crouch brothers racked up plenty of the footy, combining for 66 disposals, while Rory Atkins provided his pinpoint delivery.

The Saints have shown remarkable resilience amid a season littered with injuries to key players and lost yet another with under a minute left in the opening term, when pint-sized forward Jack Lonie hyperextended his right knee.

After dominating general play in the first quarter, St Kilda struggled to regain ascendancy and lost its second match of the year.

MEDICAL ROOM
St Kilda: Callum Wilkie came off under the blood rule for a head gash in the opening term. Jack Lonie looked in real strife after falling awkwardly and hyperextending his right knee with just under a minute left at the end of that quarter. Ben Long went into the rooms for a left shoulder issue but he returned to the field.

Adelaide: Adding to their good news, the Crows appeared to escape unscathed.

NEXT UP
St Kilda travels up to Canberra to face Greater Western Sydney next Saturday afternoon. Adelaide will face another test when it comes up against Fremantle in the Sunday twilight slot.

ST KILDA         3.6       5.6       8.7       10.8 (68)
ADELAIDE       3.0       8.1       10.6     15.7 (97)

GOALS
St Kilda: Parker 3, Membrey 2, Steven, Paton, Long, Kent, Gresham
Adelaide: Walker 4, Murphy 3, Himmelberg 2, Betts 2, Gallucci, Greenwood, Knight, Lynch

BEST 
St Kilda: Steven, Parker, Ross, Savage, Steele, McKenzie
Adelaide: Keath, Walker, B Crouch, M Crouch, Laird, Greenwood, Atkins

INJURIES 
St Kilda: Marshall (ill) replaced in selected side by Longer, Lonie (right knee)
Adelaide: Gibbs (gastro) replaced in selected side by Gallucci

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Gavine, Howorth, McInerney

Official crowd: 28,404 at Marvel Stadium