Adelaide has finished its season and farewelled its four retirees in the best possible fashion with a stirring 28-point win over top-four finisher St Kilda at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.
Andrew McLeod, Simon Goodwin, Brett Burton and Trent Hentschel were all paraded after the match as they called time on their AFL careers and the Crows were able to help the club legends celebrate their send off by recording an upset-win against the Saints in a low scoring affair that ended 9.11 (65) to 5.7 (37).
St Kilda had a ton of possession and almost set a new record for handball-to-kick ratio early in the game as they tried to stifle Adelaide's desire to play-on and move across the ground quickly.
Adelaide kept the visitors goalless in the last term while adding three of their own, as the Saints slowed down in the fourth quarter, appearing to almost concede defeat.
Scott Thompson was again the Crows' best with 37 touches, eight clearances and five inside-50s.
The hard-nosed midfielder's hard work and influence on the game was illustrated by his 20 handball receives.
Brodie Martin was also a standout for Adelaide after coach Neil Craig said the young gun looked a little off the pace last month.
Martin, recovering from a knee reconstruction, played only his second game for the season and fourth of his career, but finished with 28 possessions and eight inside-50s.
Lenny Hayes was the Saints' best, collecting plenty of important touches early. The ball magnet racked up 32 disposals including five clearances, while he was ably supported by Brendan Goddard (35 possessions)
Adelaide's Round 16 Rising Star nominee, Phil Davis, kept Nick Reiwoldt quiet with the Saints' captain taking four marks but crucially, only booting three behinds.
The Crows led by 10-points at the last break and when Kurt Tippett booted his first in the early stages of the fourth quarter, Adelaide looked in command.
The Saints continued to press but lacked intensity and looked flat a week ahead of the finals series.
Tippett sealed the match midway through the term with his second from 50 metres out and a tight angle as Adelaide's lead was stretched to 21-points.
In the context of the game, the three-goal-plus margin proved match winning and Matthew Jaensch capped off the win with a 40-metre snap late in the term.
Dal Santo, though, gave the Saints a perfect start, booting the game's opening goal after Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker wasted early chances for the Crows.
The midfielder received a handball from Farren Ray and walked into an open goal before Jason Porplyzia pulled Adelaide back into the match with his first.
Richard Douglas nailed one from the boundary line with a checkside from 40 metres out and gave Adelaide the lead.
Michael Gardiner then showed he has plenty of pace and technique for a big man, snapping from close range.
Nick Riewoldt should have had two goals by quarter-time but missed set shots from close range, including slamming one against the post from 20 metres out and on a slight angle.
The tight contest continued in the second term as both sides only adding a goal apiece.
Sean Dempster, brought in for late withdrawal Stephen Milne, goaled early for St Kilda before Adelaide fought back and regained the lead through Rory Sloane.
Brodie Martin tore through the middle of the ground carrying the ball 60 metres before bombing long, into the goal square where Sloane marked, played on and kicked Adelaide's third.
The third quarter belonged to Walker who booted three goals for the Crows in a dominant display. The strong forward converted two set shots and dribbled one through from 30 metres out.
Justin Koschitzke and Jarryn Geary kept the margin slender at the final change each scoring for St Kilda while Riewoldt's woes in front of goal continued, kicking out on the full from 45 metres right on the siren for three-quarter-time.
ADELAIDE: 2.3 3.4 6.9 9.11 (65)
ST KILDA: 2.3 3.3 5.5 5.7 (37)
GOALS: ADELAIDE: Walker 3, Tippett 2,Porplyzia, Douglas, Sloane, Jaensch,
ST KILDA: Dal Santo, Gardiner, Dempster, Koschitzke, Geary
BEST: ADELAIDE: Thompson, Martin, Douglas, Davis, Stevens, Johncock, Walker,
ST KILDA: Hayes, Dal Santo, Goddard, Montagna
INJURIES: ADELAIDE: Johncock (ankle), Symes (cut head)
ST KILDA: Sam Fisher (hamstring),
REPORTS:Nil
CHANGES: ST KILDA: Stephen Milne, replaced in selected side by Sean Dempster
UMPIRES: Kennedy, Meredith, McInerney
CROWD: 38, 121 at AAMI Stadium