It says something about the green nature of the West Coast side well beaten by Adelaide that their best quarter, the first, angered coach John Worsfold because his men did not play to instructions.

Slowing the play and putting vast numbers behind the ball, they fought out an early AFL stalemate with the Crows at AAMI Stadium.

Things opened up considerably after quarter-time, perhaps according to Worsfold's wishes, but that allowed Adelaide to run rings around their modest opposition on the way to a 74-point obliteration of the lacklustre Eagles.

The Crows accelerated through the gears to raise a 30-point halftime lead that was never challenged thereafter, ultimately ending in a 18.14 (122) to 7.6 (48) victory.

Home supporters enjoyed a rare win over West Coast, who had won eight of the past 10 meetings between the sides, and their loudest adulation was saved for Simon Goodwin, brilliant when the Crows established their break, and Jason Porplyzia, whose six-goal tally was a new career-high.

They had plenty of help, including Bernie Vince, Scott Thompson, Michael Doughty, Graham Johncock and Andrew McLeod.

All contributed to a total of 493 disposals, just five short of Geelong's all-time mark.

Winger David Mackay made a sound return from a hamstring strain, though tagger Robert Shirley twinged the same muscle, was not seen after halftime and is in considerable doubt for round 22.

Youngsters Tom Swift, Brad Ebert and Tim Houlihan were the best of a bad bunch for West Coast.

"Our focus was to move the ball quick. We'll have to ask the players that (why it was slow)," said Worsfold.

"Move the ball quick was our message, it was our game plan, it didn't happen and it's disappointing.

"We'll have to work out why they wouldn't. That'll be a big part of our review, but we addressed it at halftime.

"We showed what was written up for them and asked them why they weren't delivering on it."

Crows coach Neil Craig said he did not expect to see similar tactics among the genuine contenders in September.

"I wouldn't think you'd see too much of it (in the finals) but it was good to be exposed to it, because I thought we handled it better as the game wore on," Craig said.

"But certainly not late in the first quarter, when we got caught on the boundary side.

"We made some good adjustments after quarter-time."

Friday's win by the Western Bulldogs' over Geelong had all but eliminated the chances Adelaide had of reaching the top four, but they still had plenty at stake against the Eagles, namely the chance to keep a home final within sight.

Early on the Crows' thinking appeared muddled, perhaps by the Eagles' liberal use of a flood to choke their forward play, and only two points separated the sides at quarter-time.

Some faster transition through midfield was duly applied after the break, allowing the Crows to break free to the tune of six goals to two, with Trent Hentschel and Porplyzia both proving dangerous on the end of some excellent upfield work by their skipper Goodwin.

A 30-point halftime margin stretched to 49 in the third, and there was a distinct lack of intensity to the final term. Porplyzia did as he pleased up forward as the crowd indulged in the Mexican wave - there was even a goal for fullback Ben Rutten.

More testing battles await Adelaide, including next week when they travel to Etihad Stadium to play Carlton.

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