Adelaide coach Neil Craig admits his team may have left their finals run too late after the Crows ended their travel hoodoo with a 22-point AFL victory over West Coast at Subiaco Oval on Saturday.

Three goals to Kurt Tippett to start the final quarter and late goals to Matthew Jaensch, Jason Porplyzia and Rory Sloane were enough for Adelaide to see off a brave Eagles outfit 17.15 (117) to 14.11 (95).

Adelaide's first victory on the road since round 22 last season - and fourth win in the past five games - left the Crows just four competition points adrift of eighth spot, although that gap will widen to eight after the Sydney-North Melbourne clash on Sunday.

Craig said while finals remained a distant aim for the Crows, the prospect wouldn't be discussed among the club confines, especially with a Friday night match against ladder-leading Geelong on the horizon.

"(It) could be (that we left our run too late), but that really doesn't concern us," Craig said.

"For us to play finals we've got to keep winning.

"But in all our debrief this week and the communication we have with the players - we won't even be talking about finals.

"It's always important for any club to try to aim for the finals and we'll continue to do that.

"But I guess what we've got to concentrate on internally is what's going to enable us to continue to play some very good footy, which we're doing at the moment.

"It (winning away from home) is more an achievement than a relief.

"But the bar goes up again next week on our home ground when we face one of the most outstanding teams in the history of the game."

West Coast sit dead last on the table with just three wins to their name.

But coach John Worsfold was heartened by the effort his young group showed against the Crows, with the margin just two points deep into the final quarter before Adelaide kicked three quick goals.

"There was certainly a difference in endeavour (from the 83-point loss to Collingwood last week) so that's great," Worsfold said.

"The guys took some risks, got caught a few times, cost us dearly a couple of times but they really had a go at it.

"Overall, I saw the signs that we're looking for from the group."

West Coast will be sweating on the fitness of defender Beau Waters, who sat out most of the second half after copping a heavy cork to his hamstring.

Tippet finished with 4.3 after a quiet start while Jaensch and Ricky Henderson kicked three goals each.

Brent Reilly did a fantastic tagging job on Matt Priddis (15 possessions), while Simon Goodwin provided excellent rebound from defence and Scott Thompson was critical in the midfield.

Mark LeCras booted four goals and 200-gamer Andrew Embley three for the Eagles, who were also well served by defender Mitch Brown, Adam Selwood, Quinten Lynch and ruckman Dean Cox.

Debutant Ash Smith finished with 19 possessions and a goal, while fellow first-year players Andrew Strijk, Brad Sheppard, Lewis Stevenson and Ashton Hams were lively.

On a disappointing note for the Eagles, the 26,976 fans on hand was the lowest crowd since round 11, 2001.

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