Adelaide coach Neil Craig has slammed Melbourne fans' booing of defender Nathan Bock as "poor taste" following the Crows' 17-point AFL win over the Demons at the MCG on Sunday.

Bock, playing his first away match since being charged with assault over an incident involving his girlfriend earlier this month, was subjected to boos and cat calls each time he broke from defence in the Crows' 7.9 (51) to 4.10 (34) win.

The crowd had plenty of opportunities to get involved.

Bock had 26 disposals for the match - many of which involved long runs from the half-back flank down a wing to a clearly audible chorus of boos from sections of the opposition fans.

Craig was less than impressed with the reaction, but admitted Bock was probably going to find himself a crowd target in future matches.

The much-hyped "showdown" with arch rivals Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium next weekend looms as a far greater test for Bock's mental resolve than that provided by the 14,000 who attended the Melbourne match.

"He's going to have to handle it. It's poor taste - I won't back off from that comment - but in the end Nathan has to wear that," Craig said.

"That's part of the price he has to pay.

"What I will add to that is not one Geelong player made any comment to him last week about it (during the loss to the Cats in Adelaide), and that's good taste."

Adelaide survived a final term charge from the Dees to post victory after both sides turned on three quarters of highlight-free, error-filled football.

The Crows led by 37 points early in the fourth quarter before the Dees stormed back to get within 15 points late.

Melbourne went goalless in the first half, not managing to kick a major until Lynden Dunn steered through the big sticks at the 16-minute mark of the third term.

Melbourne forward Michael Newton summed up everything that was wrong with the game and the Dees' day, inexplicably missing twice from set shots 15 metres out before Dunn struck.

When Crow Kurt Tippett booted the first two goals of the fourth quarter, Adelaide's six-goal lead looked more than enough.

But another goal to Dunn and two more to Brock McLean and skipper James McDonald threatened to give the Dees enough momentum to cause a sensation for the 14,000 who braved a windy, cold day to watch.

However Adelaide backs Simon Goodwin (35 possessions) and Ben Rutten (30) steadied the ship to help the Crows lock out the Dees for the remainder of the game.

Adelaide now have a 3-2 win-loss record, while Melbourne have just one win in their five matches this season - Craig pleased with how his side responded on a frustrating day for all concerned.

"It was not a great spectacle, but to come away with four pretty valuable points with the way the season's unfolding in that sort of game is important for our playing group to go through," Craig said.

"To be able to feel the frustration that I could see with the way they were playing, but to be able to hang on - in the end we were good enough to win it."

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