Having watched Nathan Bassett and Luke Jericho get flattened within the space of five minutes, it would have been easy for Adelaide's players to respond in kind.

However it was a measure of a maturing team that the Crows instead chose to focus on the ball before downing Port Adelaide in a memorable showdown on Sunday.

Young Adelaide midfielder Richard Douglas, who like best afield Bernie Vince enjoyed his most productive game for the club, said it was significant that the Crows chose to keep their eye on the ball and not the man.

By the end of the night Vince, Jason Porplyzia and Scott Thompson had also been laid out on the turf.

"We definitely responded well after a few things happened in the second quarter and kicked a couple of goals and went in at halftime just in front, so that was a positive," Douglas said on Monday.

"It had been well publicised about their hardness at the ball and they showed they're hard at the ball and the man, and we expected that."

Though he has only played in four matches against the Power, Douglas had little hesitation declaring Sunday night's confrontation to be Adelaide's best win over their local rivals.

"I think it would be right up the top, of the four that I've been involved in it was definitely the best win we've had, and just by the response of the boys after the game you could tell it meant a lot to the playing group," he said.

"I would've thought (the senior guys) rated it right up the top as well, such a physical game and tight game and us being one win, one loss and them having two losses, it was more than just a showdown.'

The Crows now turn their attention to recovering from a game where even the players not knocked out gave more than is usually required, due to the extra exertions demanded by having little or no flexibility on an interchange bench filled with injured players.

Kris Massie (hamstring), Jon Griffin (heavy knock), Porplyzia (shoulder) and Jericho (arm) are all in doubt, though Bassett seems intent on playing despite his hefty concussion.

Reserve ruckman Ivan Maric and utility Bryce Campbell are among those fringe players keen to be given a chance against Hawthorn next Sunday.

"Hopefully we can try to string a few good games together now, it's a good confidence booster for the boys and created a bit of belief, and hopefully we can take it into this week and play well against Hawthorn," said Douglas.

"We'll sit down and have a lighter week and get ourselves together for next Sunday and come out fresh."

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