AT STAKE was a top-two finish.

Instead, Adelaide may need to make history if it is to claim the club's third premiership after blowing its lines in the most important game of the season.

The Crows choked under the enormous pressure of the fabled West Coast web, going down by 29 points, to put their title aspirations in serious jeopardy.

It would be unfair to take credit away from the Eagles.

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They were absolutely superb in continuing their end of season resurgence, winning their fourth straight game, overcoming the loss of star ruckman Nic Naitanui and guaranteeing themselves, at worst, a home elimination final.

"Teams lose players all the time," Eagles coach Adam Simpson said.

"Expectations, where we're at, rated too highly, not rated high enough - it's a bit of noise on the outside.

"It was more about the process of what we were going to do and how we were going to go about it."

The 14.16 (100) to 9.11 (71) win at Adelaide Oval on Friday night in front of a crowd of 50,785 puts the Eagles up to fourth, but they will need Hawthorn and Greater Western Sydney to lose this weekend to stay there.

The Crows stay second on percentage, but will fall to fifth if Geelong, the Hawks and Giants win.

History says it's impossible to win the flag from outside the top four and it hasn't been done under the current finals format.

Adelaide achieved the feat in 1998 when the fifth-placed team could lose its first final and get a second chance.

Five talking points: Adelaide v West Coast

That's not the case now. If they do find themselves outside the top four then just one more loss and a season of promise for the Crows will go down the drain.

Eagles spearhead Josh Kennedy has almost certainly won the Coleman Medal with five goals to take his season tally to 80 – 13 clear of Lance Franklin.

Andrew Gaff was everywhere, collecting a career-high 41 possessions, while Luke Shuey and Matt Priddis also found plenty of the ball.

Leading by 11 points at half-time, the Eagles continued to pile on the pressure in the third quarter and led by 37 points at the last change.

"We were beaten in pretty much every facet of the game," Crows coach Don Pyke said.

"To West Coast's credit, they really came out, they won the contests, they defended the ground really well and that led to some errors on our behalf.

"It was a disappointing night for us, there's no doubt."

The Crows were nervous throughout the game, simple kicks missed their target and presented the Eagles with numerous chances to punish them on the scoreboard.

Yet somehow, the Crows were within a point at quarter-time.

The Eagles came out firing in the second term to stretch the lead to 26 points.

The Crows then went on a run of their own with three consecutive goals, but were still extremely fortunate to be only down by 11 points at the main break.

Eagles ruckman Jonathan Giles was playing like a man possessed.

In just his third appearance for the season, and at his fourth club, Giles was doing a wonderful job as Naitanui's replacement and was on top of Crows counterpart Sam Jacobs.

The Crows sorely missed the calming influence of star midfielder Rory Sloane, serving a one-game suspension for his hit on Brad Ebert from last weekend's Showdown, and rebounding defender Brodie Smith (concussion).


MEDICAL ROOM
West Coast: Ruckman Scott Lycett came off the ground in the first quarter with a knee injury, but returned to the game. "He's got a bit of a sore knee, his PCL is a bit sore," Eagles coach Adam Simpson said. "We're trying to manage him the best we can."
Adelaide: The Crows got through the match with a clean bill of health.

NEXT UP
Adelaide remain second on the ladder, but will fall to fifth if Geelong, Hawthorn and Greater Western Sydney win this weekend. If fifth, the Crows will host an elimination final. If second, they will host a qualifying final. If third or fourth, the Crows will be the away team in a qualifying final. 

West Coast are fourth on the ladder. They will stay there if Hawthorn and Greater Western Sydney both lose, but could fall to sixth. If fourth, the Eagles will be the away team in a qualifying final. If fifth or sixth, the Eagles will host an elimination final.


ADELAIDE         2.3   6.4    6.11     10.11 (71)
WEST COAST    2.4   7.9   12.12   14.16 (100)

GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 5, Darling, Le Cras 2, Cripps, Jetta, Hill, Giles, Hutchings
Adelaide: Ellis-Yolmen, Douglas 2, McGovern, Atkins, Crouch, Betts, Jacobs, 

BEST
West Coast: Gaff, Giles, Barrass, Kennedy, Priddis, Sheed, Hurn, Shuey 
Adelaide: M.Crouch, Laird, Henderson.

INJURIES 
West Coast: Nil
Adelaide: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Ryan

Crowd: 50,785