Adelaide bagged an AFL preliminary final berth and an off-season's worth of bragging rights with a brutal 83-point dismissal of South Australian rival Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Poor goalkicking by the Crows left Port just seven points back at the main break, but a dominant Adelaide third term blew the game apart and allowed the minor premiers to cruise home 18.15 (123) to 5.10 (40) in front of 50,521 fans.

It was the biggest margin in matches between the sides, bettering Adelaide's 74-point victory in 1998 - the club's last premiership year.

Adelaide stalwarts Tyson Edwards and Simon Goodwin (three goals) played sterling games, while returning skipper Mark Ricciuto was at the forefront of his side's third term avalanche.

Young fullback Ben Rutten presented a resounding vindication of his All Australian selection by crushing Warren Tredrea and even kicking a goal.

Jason Torney was influential on his return from injury and Matthew Clarke was at his precision-tapping best in the ruck.

Chad Cornes and Domenic Cassisi were superb for the ultimately dispirited Power, but aside from Brent Montgomery and Peter Walsh had little support.

Byron Pickett's stunning second term bump on Rhett Biglands turned out to be the lone highlight of the Power's night.

Anticipation hung thick in the AAMI Stadium air as the two teams lined up for the national anthem, and its conclusion brought a blood-curdling roar from the capacity crowd.

Fitness concerns Peter Burgoyne and Michael Wilson both played for Port, but had little impact during a tight first term, which was dominated in general play if not on the scoreboard by Adelaide.

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