The Crows kicked the opening nine goals of the game to lead by 55 points early in the third term, but the Blues — who were goalless in the first half — fought back to be within 26 points late in the quarter.
Midfielder Chris Knights booted five goals to help give teammate Andrew McLeod an afternoon to remember in his club record 313th game.
Michael Doughty (26 possessions) was brilliant in restricting Blues’ star Chris Judd to just 19 possessions and Tyson Edwards and Scott Thompson were also solid.
Marc Murphy (23 possessions and two goals) was Carlton’s best, followed closely by Nick Stevens (32 possessions).
Carlton went into Saturday’s clash confident it could break a five-year losing streak against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, but the visitors barely gave a yelp in the first quarter.
The Crows, who were under the pump after three-straight losses, dominated every facet of the opening term but failed to put it on the scoreboard.
Adelaide’s pressure was relentless and every Blues’ player from first-year forward Chris Yarran to superstar Chris Judd felt the heat.
Judd, who was well held by Doughty, picked up just two touches for the term as the Crows gained the upper hand at the stoppages.
NAB Rising Star nominee Patrick Dangerfield looked dangerous up forward, but managed only two behinds and one out on the full from his three scoring shots.
Carlton’s inability to clear the ball through Adelaide’s zone was epitomised by an errant kick-in from Bryce Gibbs, which resulted in the opening goal of the game to Kurt Tippett.
Doughty continued his brilliant start with a clever snap and goal opposed to Judd.
Blues’ spearhead Brendan Fevola played up the ground for his seven first-quarter possessions, but couldn’t make his presence felt where it mattered.
Fevola and big man Matthew Kreuzer both sprayed shots on goal and the news got worse for coach Brett Ratten when utility Jarrad Waite went down clutching his knee.
Jason Porplyzia showed how it was done at the other end with another accurate set shot taking his tally to 21.1 for the season.
Defender Brent Reilly sent Adelaide inside attacking50m for the 18th time with his shot on the siren, but couldn’t convert and the margin remained at 19 points at the first change.
Adelaide, courtesy of three goals to Knights, skipped further ahead in the second term.
The Blues, who managed just four inside 50s for the quarter, remained goalless at the main change.
The ferocious Crows continued to hunt their opponents and a strong tackle from Bernie Vince resulted in Andy Otten’s first goal in AFL footy.
Knights made the most of his stint as a forward with three goals in 10 minutes to extend his side’s lead to 44 points.
Another goal, this time to Vince, gave the home side an imposing 49-point buffer at half time but, in what is becoming a pattern in 2009, Adelaide went off the boil in the third term.
The natives became restless as Carlton kicked five goals to one in the quarter, seizing the momentum and unlikely shot at victory.
Eddie Betts’ scrambling effort answered Tippett’s second for the Crows before a double to Kreuzer and a running snap from Murphy gave the Blues a sniff.
A goal to Reilly in the opening minute took some of the sting out of Carlton’s comeback.
Fevola tried to re-ignite his team with a reflex snap on goal and two posters to Murphy and Wiggins denied the visitors a chance to inch even closer.
Murphy made amends with his second major moments later, but one to Dangerfield and Knights’ fourth put the game beyond Carlton’s reach.
The Crows will now prepare to take on Hawthorn next Sunday, while Carlton will take on West Coast on Friday night.
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Adelaide 3.4 8.6 9.11 15.14 (104)
Carlton 0.3 0.5 5.8 8.12 (60)
GOALS
Adelaide: Knights 5, Tippett, Porplyzia, Vince 2, Doughty, Otten, Reilly, Dangerfield
Carlton: Kreuzer, Murphy, Stevens 2, Betts, Fevola
BEST
Adelaide: Doughty, Edwards, Knights, Thompson, Mackay, Johncock, Otten, Rutten
Carlton: Murphy, Stevens, Kreuzer, Bower, Browne
INJURIES
Adelaide:
Carlton: Waite (knee), Heath Scotland (TBA) replaced in side by Simon Wiggins
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McLaren, Hendrie, Pannell
Official crowd: 41,107 at AAMI Stadium
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or the clubs.
