Veteran Adelaide forward Taylor Walker has booted five goals, including the late match-winner, in a nerve-jangling one-point triumph against St Kilda.
Adelaide recovered from a 26-point deficit early in the second quarter to log a 15.13 (103) to 15.12 (102) victory at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
The Crows move to three wins and three losses and ninth spot on the ladder while leaving the 13th-placed Saints (two wins, four defeats) in early strife.
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Walker and Riley Thilthorpe (three goals) were ever-present dangers in attack and teammates Wayne Milera (29 disposals) and Josh Worrell (28, 11 marks) were standouts in defence.
St Kilda’s Jack Sinclair collected a game-high 35 possessions, Jack Higgins kicked four majors, and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (28 touches), Callum Wilkie (31, 11 marks) and Darcy Wilson (24, two goals) were influential.
Adelaide veteran Taylor Walker celebrates one of his five goals in the win over St Kilda. Credit: AAP
After Adelaide’s Ben Keays kicked the opening goal 90 seconds in, the Saints took complete control.
Sinclair amassed 17 disposals, star defender Callum Wilkie had 13 and took six marks, and Jack Higgins slotted two goals as the visitors raced to a 4.4 to 1.2 quarter-time lead.
St Kilda’s advantage stretched to 26 points early in the second quarter but then the tide turned drastically.
The Crows booted seven goals – including six consecutive – to one in a powerful retort.
With Walker kicking two goals, and Josh Rachele and first-gamer Charlie Edwards making an imprint in the midfield, Adelaide created an eight-point halftime lead, 8.4 to 6.8.
The Crows’ spree extended into the third stanza with the 35-year-old Walker slotting two goals in four minutes and winger Brayden Cook threading another with a stunning checkside snap from near a boundary line.
Cook’s brilliant effort put Adelaide 27 points up — and the Saints on the ropes.
But the visitors responded to their predicament with the next two goals, only for imposing Crow Thilthorpe to snag two quick majors as the hosts stretched their break to 29 points.
Yet again the Saints rallied, with Higgins kicking his third and a post-siren conversion from Tom De Koning reducing their three quarter-time deficit to 15 points.
St Kilda scored the initial three three goals of the final term to level scores with 12 minutes remaining.
Adelaide’s Keays snapped accurately with a tick over six minutes left, giving the home side a seven-point cushion – only for Higgins to boot his fourth – and the Saints were one point down with four minutes left..
But after scores were again tied, an Alex Neal-Bullen point for the Crows was followed by Walker’s fifth – a left foot snap.
Saint Mitch Owens goaled with 10 seconds left but his side fell agonisingly short.
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