Port Adelaide's 12-point victory over Adelaide in the AFL showdown at AAMI Stadium proved the tale of a side with nothing to play for beating an opponent with everything to lose.

The Power ended a five-match losing run and seriously dented Adelaide's season with a 13.14 (92) to 11.14 (80) result.

It was the Crows' fifth straight loss and dumped them out of the top eight for the first time since round one.

Crippled by injuries to Brett Burton and Jason Porplyzia, Adelaide must now be odds-on to miss the finals, while the Power can pride themselves on having their noses in front on the showdown ledger, 13-12.

"At 12-12 we wanted to stay ahead of the Crows in regard to that ledger, we have been in front every time the games have been played so it's really important for our club," Port coach Mark Williams said.

"We had a great effort from everyone, it was all about giving a bit of yourself for the club today.

"The club have done a wonderful job ... for all our players, ourselves and our staff and we thought it was time to lay it on the line and deliver and give something back to the club."

In difficult, greasy conditions - bad enough to draw only 31,662 spectators, the smallest of all showdown crowds - it was Port's greater class at the stoppages and in front of goal that got them home.

Small forwards Daniel Motlop (four goals), Danyle Pearce (three) and Brett Ebert (four) all contributed significantly in attack for the Power.

Midfielder Steve Salopek was outstanding in his first game back from injury, Dom Cassisi was ever-present around the packs and Shaun Burgoyne had a serious influence in the pivotal third quarter.

Kane Cornes was significant too, completely shutting down the recalled Andrew McLeod.

Michael Doughty, Chris Knights, Nathan Bassett and Simon Goodwin (three goals) gave their all for the Crows.

A morning of heavy showers had left the ground decidedly damp and slippery, but the rain abated somewhat by the time of the bounce down, allowing Port to steal an early break through their speed.

Running clear of the stoppages, David Rodan, Salopek and Cassisi were all excellent as the Power established an 11-point quarter time advantage.

Adelaide gained the ascendancy in the second term, epitomised by a seven minute sequence in which they managed seven consecutive behinds, Port simply unable to clear their defensive 50m arc.

Eventually the pressure told and Bernie Vince's courageous mark and goal gave the Crows a narrow halftime lead.

They were to relinquish it in the third, for the fourth time in five weeks, in the face of a concerted Power counter-attack that again began around the stoppages.

Needing to overrun Port at the death, something numerous sides have done this year, the Crows were unable to wriggle free and goals to Motlop, Justin Westhoff, Pearce and Ebert settled the result.

Adelaide coach Neil Craig acknowledged the pressure generated by five consecutive losses.

"Any long losing streak for any football club at any level always poses a range of challenges and we're no different," Craig said.

"What I can say is we'll continue to be very demanding in what we're doing, our preparation and the way we want to play our football, and we'll get out of it."

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