The Cats made a mockery of the Crows' suggestions they would challenge Geelong with an aggressive approach by comprehensively outplaying them all over the ground to win 18.16 (124) to 8.8 (56) in front of 44,377 spectators.
Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood and Corey Enright all chopped the Crows to pieces through the middle, while Tom Lonergan benefited from silver service to notch a career-high four goals.
Cameron Ling, Gary Ablett and Darren Milburn were among the many others to shine and recalled goalsneak Matthew Stokes (three) even managed a goal of the year contender in the last term.
Graham Johncock (two goals), Simon Goodwin, Scott Stevens and Kris Massie did their best to put out the spot fires for a side now mired well and truly in mid-table after three consecutive losses.
Having preached attack and risk-taking all week, the Crows were hard pressed merely getting their hands on the ball in the first term and didn't get on the scoreboard until Nathan van Berlo's hurried point in time on.
At the other end Steve Johnson (two goals) and Lonergan were dominant and, if anything, the Cats should have been up by more than 29 points at the first break.
The Crows belatedly found the goals in the first 10 minutes of the second term through Jason Porplyzia and Richard Douglas, but they were cancelled out by majors to Lonergan and tagger Ling.
Lonergan's third and a first for Cameron Mooney both eventuated from serene build-ups and Adelaide's desperation was emphasised entering halftime by the sight of career backman Ben Rutten at full-forward.
He was switched for Nathan Bassett in the third term as Adelaide offered the odd hint of better play, winning more of the ball than at any stage of the first half.
Geelong's defence, though, took it mainly as an opportunity to show their worth, consistently outnumbering the home forwards whenever a hurried kick tumbled into the 50m zone.
Within 10 minutes, the pattern had changed back to something more familiar and Geelong had three of the quarter's final four goals for a yawning 50-point gap at the last change.
While the Cats slowed fractionally in the final term, they still won the quarter comfortably.
Adelaide 0.1 2.5 4.8 8.8 (56)
Geelong 4.6 9.8 12.10 18.16 (124)
GOALS
Adelaide: Douglas 2, Burton, Johncock, Porplyzia, Massie, Edwards, Maric
Geelong: Lonergan 4, Stokes 3, Johnson, Corey, Mooney 2, Ling, Varcoe, Blake, Chapman, Mackie
BEST
Adelaide: Goodwin, Edwards, Stevens, Massie
Geelong: Enright, Bartel, Selwood, Mackie, Johnson, Ling, Lonergan
INJURIES
Adelaide: Reilly (knee)
Geelong: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Chamberlain
Official crowd: 44,377 at AAMI Stadium
