ADELAIDE has held off a fast-finishing West Coast to snap its five-game losing run with an unconvincing 31-point victory in slippery conditions at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The margin means the Eagles avoided the ignominy of an AFL/VFL record eight successive 50-plus-point defeats, with the final score 13.10 (88) to 8.9 (57).

CROWS v EAGLES Full match coverage and stats

West Coast had come into the game after a horror run, tied with the 1995 Fitzroy and 2013 Greater Western Sydney sides for seven straight 50-plus-point losses.

The Eagles had a glimmer of victory late, closing within 21 points after four consecutive goals either side of three-quarter time before the outstanding Taylor Walker eased any nerves for the home side in front of 22,859 fans with a crucial goal.

Walker, Shane McAdam and Darcy Fogarty all kicked three goals each for the Crows, who improve their record to 4-8, having opened up a 31-point lead by quarter-time.

Rory Laird was brilliant for Adelaide with 33 disposals, including 17 contested possessions, eight clearances and nine score involvements with nine tackles, while Ben Keays had 16 contested possessions among his 29 touches.

The struggling Eagles showed heart to rally from their early deficit with Jack Darling kicking two second-quarter goals, while Andrew Gaff had 30 disposals and Luke Shuey and Tim Kelly worked hard with 27 and 24 possessions respectively.

Adelaide won the inside 50s count 59-44 but were up 53-25 at three-quarter time. The Crows had more contested possessions (153-127), hitouts (48-30) and marks inside 50 (11-5).

Fogarty helped Adelaide off to a flyer with two first-quarter goals, including a running 60m shot which dribbled over the line, as the Crows kept the Eagles goalless in an ominous sign.

Darling finally got the visitors on the scoreboard early in the second, before he slotted an excellent snap from the boundary and set up Gaff, while Fogarty threatened to kick a bag, booting his third before half-time.

Laird laid off to Walker for a 50m goal in a third-quarter highlight before West Coast mounted a comeback with Jamie Cripps slotting a running goal shortly prior to the three-quarter time siren.

Samo Petrevski-Seton and Connor West kicked truly to close within 21 points but Walker marked and goaled to kill off the threat, with Laird fittingly slotting the sealer.

Walker boosts contract case
Walker returned seamlessly after a week out due to health and safety protocols to bolster his case for another contract, with his current deal expiring at the end of this season. The 32-year-old five-time Adelaide leading goalkicker had a game-high 10 score involvements along with his three goals, unselfishly setting up the opening goal for McAdam in the goalsquare, along with Wayne Milera in the second term with a bullet handpass. He also took a fine mark on the final siren.

Crows' inaccuracy still an issue?
Adelaide came into this game plagued by recent inaccuracy issues in front of goal, kicking its way out of the round 10 defeat to St Kilda with 9.15. The same problems proved costly early in last weekend's loss to Geelong, finishing with 7.13, but things looked far improved after 5.2 in the first quarter. However, the wobbles re-emerged through the middle two terms, kicking 5.8, before three straight majors in the last. The jury remains out, but it was an improvement given the conditions.

Oh Darling!
Darling provided a rare bright spot for West Coast with another impressive display, taking several strong marks and kicking two goals and setting up another in the second term, after four goals last week against the Western Bulldogs to represent a major form upturn. The much-maligned forward had struggled for form across his opening nine games of the season after missing nine weeks of pre-season due to his vaccine status.

ADELAIDE                  5.2       9.6       10.10       13.10 (88)
WEST COAST             0.1       3.4         5.5            8.9 (57)

GOALS
Adelaide: Fogarty 3, McAdam 3, Walker 3, Soligo 2, Milera, Laird
West Coast: Darling 2, Gaff, Redden, Cripps, Petrevski-Seton, West, Kennedy

BEST 
Adelaide: Laird, Walker, Keays, O'Brien, Fogarty, Crouch
West Coast: Gaff, Kelly, Redden, Darling, Shuey

INJURIES 
Adelaide: Parnell (quad)
West Coast: Winder (knee)

LATE CHANGES
Adelaide: Nil
West Coast: Jeremy McGovern (back) replaced in selected side by Luke Foley

SUBSTITUTES 
Adelaide: Harry Schoenberg (replaced Parnell in the fourth quarter)
West Coast: Patrick Naish (replaced Winder in the fourth quarter)