A PIECE of Eddie Betts magic has capped off Adelaide's gritty 17-point victory against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

The crowd of 42,383 witnessed an otherwise dour contest until the brilliant small forward jagged a trademark goal from the pocket late in the last quarter to seal the result.

The Dockers trailed by 19 points at three-quarter time before goals to Matt Taberner and Michael Walters gave them a sniff.

But majors to Alex Keath – courtesy of a controversial 50m penalty against Darcy Tucker – and Betts ensured the Crows improved to 4-3 for the season, getting home 7.9 (51) to 5.4 (34).

CROWS PIP DOCKERS Full match coverage and stats

Matt Crouch was huge for the Crows with 39 disposals, brother Brad had 31 while Cam Ellis-Yolmen (33), Hugh Greenwood (22, 13 contested) and Rory Sloane (33, 15 contested) were strong in the contest.

Rory Laird and Brodie Smith provided drive out of defence, and Tom Lynch was important with 29 touches across half-forward.

The Dockers were led brilliantly by Nat Fyfe with 32 disposals, including 19 contested, and he received great midfield support from David Mundy (35 disposals and 20 contested), Ed Langdon and Michael Walters.

Key defender Alex Pearce got the points in his battle with Crows co-captain Taylor Walker.

Pearce kept Walker to one goal, while also having 10 contested possessions among his 16 disposals.

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If the first term was a slog – with three goals between the two sides – the second was even harder to watch.

There were only three behinds scored in the quarter, all of those to the Crows, including Lynch and Betts both hitting the post.

It was the equal-fifth lowest-scoring second quarter in VFL/AFL history, and the lowest in 31 years when St Kilda and Collingwood scored three points between them in their round 12 match in 1988.

Despite going scoreless for the term, the Dockers still led at the main change – 2.2 (14) to 1.6 (12).

The Crows weren't rewarded for lifting their intensity, having 14 more contested possessions and seven more clearances than the Dockers after losing both areas in the first quarter.

Hugh Greenwood brought the house down with a running 52m goal at the eight-minute mark of the third quarter – breaking a 38-minute drought since Tucker's goal in the 25th minute of the game.

Matt Taberner responded for the Dockers before Elliott Himmelberg got one back immediately.

Lachlan Murphy missed a set shot, but the Crows small forward got a second chance after Bradley Hill gave away a controversial 50m penalty for throwing grass at Murphy as he walked in to take his shot.

Murphy converted his second attempt from point-blank range.

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In a game of few highlights, running defender Brodie Smith provided one with a brilliant goal from outside 50 for the Crows' third straight.

They looked to have broken the game open, but Tucker gave the Dockers a heartbeat with a beautiful long goal to reduce the margin to 13 points.

However, they fell short to fall to 4-3 for the season.

MEDICAL ROOM
Adelaide: The Crows reported a clean bill of health.
Fremantle: The Dockers also got through the game unscathed.

NEXT UP
The Crows have a six-day break before taking on crosstown rivals Port Adelaide in Showdown 46 at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. The Dockers host Richmond at Optus Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

ADELAIDE  1.3       1.6       5.9     7.9 (51)
FREMANTLE         2.2       2.2       3.2       5.4 (34) 

GOALS
Adelaide: Walker, Greenwood, Himmelberg, Murphy, Smith, Keath, Betts
Fremantle: Tucker 2, Hill, Taberner, Walters

BEST 
Adelaide: M Crouch, B Crouch, Sloane, Lynch, Ellis-Yolmen, Laird
Fremantle: Fyfe, Mundy, Pearce, Ryan, Langdon, Cerra

INJURIES 
Adelaide: Nil
Fremantle: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, Findlay, Wallace

Official crowd: 42,383 at Adelaide Oval