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Gotcha:Matthew Kennedy is tackled by Jake Soligo.Credit:AFL Photos/ Getty Images

Matthew Cottrell’s two goals against the grain in the fourth term kept Carlton in the hunt before Darcy Fogarty produced a moment of magic,spinning past Lachie Plowman and Lochie O’Brien,brushing aside Adam Cerra and snapping truly over his shoulder to ice the upset.

Patrick Cripps (career-best 41 disposals,13 clearances) and Sam Walsh (career-best 40 touches) were heroic,but a lack of contributors aside from that dynamic dueo ensured the Blues remain winless at SA’s football headquarters.

Their dark night was further soured by a trio of injuries.

Corey Durdin substituted out during a damaging second quarter after injuring his right shoulder while tackling Sam Berry,before Nic Newman limped off with his left knee accidentally gashed by Wayne Milera’s boot studs moments later.

Then in the fourth stanza,Matthew Kennedy was helped off the ground following a clash of heads with Crow Will Hamill.

The run and carry out of half-back from Brodie Smith (37 disposals,13 inside-50s) and Jordan Dawson was devastating,Rory Laird worked typically tirelessly both ways,Taylor Walker lowered Jacob Weitering’s colours and Josh Worrell looked like a 150-match veteran in defence,not a second-gamer making his first appearance in more than a year.

Then there was Ben Keays.

Pigeon-holed exclusively as a bullocking inside midfielder,Keays excelled in a revised half-forward post,slotting three majors and setting up four others.

Charlie Curnow set up Matthew Owies for the visitors’ first goal before goaling twice himself and the Blues looked on,but he was otherwise well held as the Crows had all the answers.

The new-look Walker-Keays forward tandem worked a treat for Adelaide,the under-siege and progressively under-manned Blues outworked repeatedly and constantly hemmed in their back half,virtually for the best part of three quarters.

EARLY FLIERS

Two marvellous Adelaide marks book ended the first quarter of action.

The match was 20 seconds old when Smith’s long,penetrative entry was marked athletically by Shane McAdam,in front of opponent Lachie Plowman and over the top of Taylor Walker and Jacob Weitering.

McAdam’s kick for goal slewed well wide,the Crows’ early inaccuracy costing them early. On the cusp of quarter-time,Fogarty flew over former teammate Mitch McGovern and pulled down a fine catch.

Hugging the south-western pocket,a far tighter angle than from where McAdam misfired,Fogarty converted on the quarter-time siren to trim Carlton’s lead to three points.

Darcy Fogarty flies high.Credit:Getty Images

PLAY OF THE YEAR

Blistering sequences of magic have been few and far between for Adelaide in recent years but there was one dynamic series of plays which had Crows fans on their feet epitomised the home side’s ascendant second quarter.

Starting with Fogarty’s physical presence forcing Lachie Plowman to overshoot a handball,Dawson then launched Adelaide forward into open space.

Wayne Milera hunted down Lewis Young on the outer side and twice corralled Saad.

Ned McHenry then shirtfronted Adam Cerra magnificently,allowing Harry Schoenberg to pounce and drill a heads-up pass to Keays,all alone in the goalsquare for one of his three majors.

“Play of the night,” exclaimed Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell. “Maybe play of the year for the Crows.“

Best:Adelaide: Smith,Keays,Laird,Walker,Dawson,Worrell,Milera.Carlton: Cripps,Walsh,Docherty,Cerra,Kennedy.

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