MALIGNED Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins has booted three goals in a precious 21-point win against Greater Western Sydney.

Jenkins was the standout forward in a tight Saturday night encounter at Adelaide Oval, helping his side triumph 12.10 (82) to 9.7 (61).

The Crows rose from eighth spot to fifth on the ladder by inflicting the fourth loss of the season on the second-placed Giants.

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Jenkins' goalscoring - in his second game back in AFL ranks after being banished to the SANFL for six games - was crucial, while captain Taylor Walker (two goals) was influential in a tense last quarter.

Adelaide slipped four points behind some 11 minutes into the last term but finished with a flourish, booting the last four goals of the game.

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The flurry started with Walker's pack mark and conversion and ended with an Eddie Betts trademark: a freakish snap from near the boundary.

Adelaide's Crouch brothers were prolific ball-winners - Matt had a team-high 34 disposals and Brad collected 31 and kicked a goal, and teammates Wayne Milera (21 possessions) and Rory Laird (28 possessions) were prominent.

The Giants were superbly served by onballers Tim Taranto (36 disposals, seven tackles) and Josh Kelly (33 touches, two goals), while Stephen Coniglio and Heath Shaw both gathered 27 possessions.

Both sides suffered late withdrawals - GWS star Toby Greene didn't overcome a knee injury while Adelaide's Tom Lynch hurt a calf muscle in the pre-match warm-up and was a last-minute scratching.

Despite losing Lynch, the Crows opened strongly but failed to convert their dominance into scoreboard advantage - they logged 32 inside 50s to 17 by half-time but led by just nine points.

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But when Jenkins opened the goal scoring for a third consecutive quarter and teammate Lachlan Murphy snapped accurately a minute later, the home side held a 21-point break six minutes into the third term.

The Giants then rallied and, when Kelly slotted his second major late in the quarter, the visitors were in front for the first time.

But GWS' four-point advantage at the last change rapidly disappeared in the last term when Crows Rory Sloane and Brad Crouch goaled, only for the Giants to reply twice to restore their four-point lead.

Walker then crunched a pack and took a high mark and goaled, triggering Adelaide's defining late scoring spree.

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MEDICAL ROOM
Adelaide: The Crows were forced into a late change when forward Tom Lynch injured his calf in the warm-up. He will be assessed, but he's likely to miss Thursday night's clash with Richmond. Forward Jordan Gallucci picked up a cork but finished the game.

Greater Western Sydney: Defender Nick Haynes came off the ground midway through the second quarter after hurting his left ankle in a marking contest. He returned later in the quarter and was strong with his intercept marking but didn't finish the game and is in doubt for next weekend's clash against North Melbourne in Hobart. Isaac Cumming copped a head knock early in the third quarter but passed a concussion test. Adam Tomlinson came off under the blood rule with a cut to his head in the third term, having it taped up before returning.

NEXT UP
The Crows will have to regroup quickly ahead of their only five-day break of the season when they host Richmond at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night. The Giants are on the road again, travelling to Tasmania to take on a resurgent North Melbourne in Hobart next Sunday.

ADELAIDE        2.5       4.7       6.7       12.10 (82)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY       1.2       3.4       7.5       9.7 (61)

GOALS
Adelaide: Jenkins 3, Walker 2, Sloane 2, Betts 2, Murphy, B.Crouch, Greenwood
Greater Western Sydney: Himmelberg 2, Kelly 2, Perryman, Hopper, Taranto, Lloyd, Cameron

BEST
Adelaide:  M Crouch, B Crouch, Ellis-Yolmen, Milera, Hartigan, O'Brien
Greater Western Sydney: Kelly, Taranto, Coniglio, De Boer, Perryman, Haynes

INJURIES
Adelaide: Tom Lynch (calf) replaced in selected side by Hugh Greenwood
Greater Western Sydney: Toby Greene (knee) replaced in selected side by Daniel Lloyd

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, Power, Chamberlain, Gianfagna

Official crowd: 41,710 at Adelaide Oval