The Blues held the lead at the first two breaks before the Crows managed to run away with the contest late to record a 16.15 (111) to 11.15 (81) victory in front of 41,033 fans.
It was a war of attrition for both sides. Adelaide lost Ben Rutten shortly before half-time with a leg injury, and Carlton had to make do without Bret Thornton and Adam Hartlett who sustained knee and hamstring injuries respectively.
Rutten had the job on Brendan Fevola early and kept him to one goal with some help from his teammates who choked up the space in front of the star forward. Nathan Bock went one better when he was handed the task, keeping the Coleman medal fancy to just the single major.
Scott Thompson was important in the Adelaide engine room with a game-high 33 possessions, and he was well-supported by Tyson Edwards (29), Graham Johncock (26) and Andrew McLeod (24).
Robert Shirley minded Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd for most of the day and he performed his task well, keeping the Blues talisman to just 15 disposals.
Brett Burton was the most dangerous forward on the ground with four goals, while Judd and Eddie Betts were the Blues’ only multiple goal scorers with two each.
Heath Scotland impressed for Carlton with 25 possessions with Marc Murphy (24) and Nick Stevens (24) also prominent.
The match opened at a slow tempo with the Blues, who had 49 short kicks in the first quarter to the Crows’ 14, content to chip the ball around until they found a way through Adelaide’s defences.
The strategy paid off early with Betts’ party trick soccered goal from 40 m out helping to establish a 13-point lead before Burton swooped on a loose ball to open his account, and Jason Porplyzia converting his set shot to even the ledger 10 minutes in.
Bock evoked memories of Phil Manassa as he loped down the wing, taking three bounces, before kicking truly. But Carlton finished the term the better with goals to Fevola and Betts giving their side a 16-point lead at the first break.
The contest opened up considerably in the second with Adelaide doing all the early attacking. Kurt Tippett did well to out-body Michael Jamison and goal, Richard Douglas evaded Kade Simpson to convert from close range and Burton’s second snatched back the lead.
Hartlett hobbled off to add to Brett Ratten’s woes, but the Blues were able to dig deep and mount a counter-attack.
Debutant Steven Browne booted his first career goal and Cameron Cloke hacked the ball out of the air from the goal square to restore a 10-point advantage at half time.
Adelaide upped its intensity around the stoppages as the second half progressed and gained an influential advantage in the clearances. Carlton held its nerve with Simpson’s goal maintaining the lead momentarily, but a four-goal burst, including Burton’s third, allowed the Crows to go into the final term with a 16-point lead.
A stalemate ensued in the opening minutes of the quarter, which saw former Crow Darren Pfeiffer reported for rough conduct on Johncock.
But then the Crows opened up, as their domination of the stoppages eventually told on the scoreboard.
Adelaide 3.3, 6.7, 12.11, 16.15 (111)
Carlton 5.7, 7.11, 9.13, 11.15 (81)
GOALS
Carlton: Betts 2, Judd 2, Simpson, Stevens, Browne, Cloke, Fevola, Murphy, Fisher.
Adelaide: Burton 4, Douglas 3, Porplyzia 2, Tippett 2, Bock, Doughty, Goodwin, McLeod, Vince.
BEST
Carlton: Scotland, Stevens, Murphy, Bentick, Simpson, Carrazzo.
Adelaide: Thompson, Burton, Johncock, Griffin, Goodwin, McLeod, Shirley, Edwards, Bock.
INJURIES
Carlton: Thornton (knee), Hartlett (hamstring)
Adelaide: Rutten (corked buttock)
CHANGES
Carlton: Hadley (groin) replaced in selected side by Bentick
Adelaide: Nil
REPORTS
Carlton: Darren Pfeiffer reported by umpire Kamolins for rough conduct on Graham Johncock
Umpires: Chamberlain, Kamolins, Wenn
Crowd: 41,033 at the MCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL of the clubs.
