GALLERY: The best Magpies v Crows photos
COLLINGWOOD 3.0 5.4 8.8 12.10 (82)
ADELAIDE 5.5 7.8 9.13 14.14 (98)
GOALS
Collingwood: Cloke 3, White 2, Beams 2, Pendlebury, Elliott, Martin, Witts, Blair
Adelaide: Walker 3, Betts 2, Smith 2, Douglas 2, Jaensch, Martin, Sloane, Podsiadly, McKay
BEST
Collingwood: Beams, Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Cloke, Lumumba
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Crouch, Smith, Martin, Sloane
INJURIES
Collingwood: Langdon (head)
Adelaide: Podsiadly (elbow), Dangerfield (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Ben Kennedy replaced Kyle Martin in the fourth quarter
Adelaide: Mitch Grigg replaced Matthew Wright at three-quarter time
Crows spearhead Taylor Walker kicked goals when the match was in the balance. Photo: Getty
What happened
Feeling the pressure of a must-win game, the Crows started nervously, kicking four straight behinds to open the match.
But the visitors quickly found their composure, slotting five goals before quarter-time.
The Pies returned fire with 2.4 in the second term, but still found themselves down 7.8 (50) to 5.4 (34) at the main break.
The Crows continued to controlled much of the third term, but a late Pies surge brought the home side within 11 points at the final change.
Dayne Beams put Collingwood ahead by a point with 15 mins to go, and it looked as if Collingwood was going to finish the stronger team.
But, with the match in the balance, it was Adelaide which took its chances in what was a frenetic, end-to-end style finish.
Richard Douglas reclaimed the Crows' lead when he swooped on a loose ball in the pocket and Taylor Walker found space inside 50 and booted the final two goals of the game.
It wasn't all good news for the Crows.
Senior onballer Scott Thompson was a late withdrawal, with Mitch Grigg coming into the team.
And superstar Patrick Dangerfield hobbled off late in the final term with a knee complaint. He told Fox Footy in an interview after the siren that the injury was minor. 
James Podsiadly (centre) celebrates a crucial win in his 100th AFL game. Photo: Getty
Fallout
The loss means Collingwood has slipped out of the top eight for the first time since Round 4.
And with matches against Port Adelaide, West Coast (Patersons Stadium) and Hawthorn to come, the Magpies need a dramatic form turnaround to play finals.
It's the first time the Pies have lost three consecutive matches in the same season since 2008.
Hope he's in my fantasy team
Walker's three goals meant he was the star performer the Crows, while Dangerfield was the leading ball-winner with 26 touches.
Travis Cloke kicked three goals in total for the Magpies and Steele Sidebottom gathered 33 possessions.
Collingwood now faces an uphill battle to make the finals. Photo: Getty
What's next
The Magpies return to the MCG next Sunday at 4.40pm for another critical game, this time against Port Adelaide.
The Crows host struggling West Coast on Saturday afternoon at Adelaide Oval.