ADELAIDE coach Don Pyke always believed the Crows could match it with the best in the competition.

But Saturday night's rousing 21-point win against Greater Western Sydney gives the Crows the confidence they are moving in the right direction.

The Crows (7-5) claimed their biggest scalp of the season, and their second win against a top-eight side after beating Port Adelaide in round eight, coming from behind in the last quarter before kicking the last four goals of the game at Adelaide Oval.

CROWS ROLL GIANTS Full match coverage and stats

"I've never doubted that (we can beat anyone)," Pyke told reporters.

"We've shown, even a couple weeks ago against West Coast, we were well and truly in that game, but we lost it.

"Tonight, we were able to win one.

"Playing the best teams, wins are hard, and tonight was a hard-fought win, but it's another four points.

"It's the reality, but it's a bit more than that for us, because it gives us that sense we're on the right path here.

"We were able to do it for longer tonight."

Midfielders Matt and Brad Crouch were superb with 34 and 31 disposals respectively, while young ruckman Reilly O'Brien got the better of Giants big man Shane Mumford.

O'Brien – in just his 12th career game – had 17 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 29 hitouts and nine clearances as he aims to retain his spot ahead of lead ruckman Sam Jacobs, who has played two games back in the SANFL from a knee injury.

"I thought (O'Brien's) last quarter was huge for us," Pyke said.

"He led really strongly in the ruck role.

"I thought last week against (Max) Gawn he was ok in the ruck without being dominant, but tonight I thought he was very good."

WATCH Don Pyke's full post-match press conference

The Crows have a short five-day turnaround before they host Richmond.

They are likely to be without forward Tom Lynch, who was a late scratching after he tweaked his calf during the warm-up.

"For us, the priority becomes recovery," Pyke said.

"Tonight, apart from Tom, it looks like we've pulled up pretty well.

"It'll now just be a matter of getting our recovery right and we'll be set for Thursday night."