SHOWDOWN 45 will go down in history as one of the best with Adelaide keeping its season alive thanks to a controversial three-point victory over Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Crows forward Josh Jenkins capped a superb individual performance, kicking the match-winning goal with less than three minutes on the clock, though the ball appeared to graze the post on the way through.

CROWS WIN THRILLER Full match coverage and stats

In an on-ground interview after the game, Jenkins admitted he thought his shot had hit the woodwork.

"My grandma raised me not to tell fibs. I think it hit the post but I'm pretty happy that they didn't think so," he told Fox Footy.

Power coach Ken Hinkley stressed the goal review decision didn't cost his side victory, but was upset with the call.

"Let me be really clear right from the start, Adelaide deserved to win, they were the better team in a really close game," he said.

"Both teams going at it, they had a number of more entries, more contested possession, we had a chance to put them away but we didn't.

GAMEBREAKER Jenkins dominates the Showdown

"But to deal with that last moment, where the player acknowledges it's hit the post and the AFL, in a billion-dollar industry, can wreck seasons for football clubs that work too hard.

“If I was the AFL, I'd be embarrassed and disappointed in an industry that's so important to so many people.

"I will say again, Adelaide Crows were the better team on the night and deserved to win."

The Crows (10-9) are still within touch of the top eight, while the Power (12-7) have slipped to fifth and missed a major opportunity to consolidate their spot in a congested ladder.

The Power looked like they were home when Chad Wingard booted his fourth goal to give his side a 10-point lead at the 18-minute mark of the last term.

SCORE REVIEW CONTROVERSY Five talking points

Goalless to that point, Crows forward Eddie Betts, usually a prolific goal-kicker in Showdowns, kicked his first goal of the game before Jenkins gave the Crows the lead with a snap that was reviewed, but given the all-clear, much to the delight of the 50,377-strong crowd.

Power star Robbie Gray claimed a record fourth Showdown Medal after booting four goals, having 20 disposals and 12 contested possessions.

It's the fifth Showdown that has been decided by a goal or less, and the equal-lowest bwinning margin alongside the Crows' three-point win in round 16, 2015.

The Crows have retaken the lead in the overall ledger 23-22 and have won six of the past seven against the Power.

"It's a fantastic win for the footy club," Crows coach Don Pyke said afterwards.

"We knew the importance of tonight, we can keep progressing in the season.

"Having done that, we move on to next week."

Matt Crouch was brilliant with his inside contested work, finishing with a game-high 35 disposals, while Bryce Gibbs turned in a strong performance in his 250th game, finding plenty of the ball, with 29 disposals, and using it well.

Jenkins was the dominant player on the ground in the first half with 14 disposals, seven marks and two goals.

He had just four touches, one mark and a goal after the break, but kicked the goal that counted.

All Australian defender Rory Laird was averaging 32.9 disposals per game heading into the Showdown, but Darcy Byrne-Jones restricted the Crows star to just 18 touches in a superb tagging role.

Jared Polec's outside run was important, Dan Houston was lively off half-back and second-gamer Kane Farrell kicked three first-quarter goals.

The Crows kicked the first three goals of the game before the Power responded to take a nine-point advantage – 9.5 (59) to 7.8 (50) – into half-time.

MEDICAL ROOM
Adelaide: Crows speedster Riley Knight had his left knee assessed in the first quarter, but started the second term. Key defender Daniel Talia left the ground early in the last quarter with a cork in his right leg and didn't finish the game.
Port Adelaide: The Power had a clean bill of health.

NEXT UP
The Crows head to Canberra to face Greater Western Sydney next Saturday night in a massive encounter, while the Power have a second-straight Saturday twilight fixture, this time against West Coast at Adelaide Oval.

ADELAIDE                               5.3  7.8   9.14   13.18 (96)                  
PORT ADELAIDE                   5.3  9.5   10.9   14.9   (93)  

GOALS
Adelaide: Jenkins 3, Sloane 2, Walker, Murphy, Greenwood, Gallucci, Lynch, Doedee, M.Crouch, Betts
Port Adelaide: Gray 4, Wingard 4, Farrell 3, Boak 2, Byrne-Jones

BEST 
Adelaide: M.Crouch, Gibbs, Jenkins, Sloane, Atkins, Doedee
Port Adelaide: Gray, Polec, Wingard, Ryder, Byrne-Jones, Boak

INJURIES 
Adelaide: Talia (right calf)
Port Adelaide: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Nicholls, Mitchell

Official crowd: 50,377 at the Adelaide Oval