Adelaide coach Neil Craig believes a 57-point dismantling of Gold Coast proves nothing about his AFL club.

The Crows weathered a Gary Ablett special to post a 20.10 (130) to 9.19 (73) victory at AAMI Stadium on Saturday, a win headlined by a six-goal haul from Patrick Dangerfield.

Concussed last week in a controversial tackle which led to Demon Jack Trengove's suspension, Dangerfield was only cleared to play by a match-day medical test.

The emerging Crow triggered an Adelaide revival after they were stunned early by the Ablett-inspired Suns.

Ablett was supreme and collected 41 disposals, kicked four goals, laid eight tackles and propelled his side inside the 50m arc eight times.

The Gold Coast captain kicked three of the initial four goals of the game, as his side raced to a 25-point lead midway through the opening quarter.

But the Crows then piled on 15 goals to two, steamrolling their inexperienced opponents to notch their third win of the season.

Craig was enthused by the response to a 96-point thumping by Melbourne last week, led by captain Nathan van Berlo (36 disposals), Graham Johncock (31 touches) and Scott Thompson (34 possessions).

"I don't think it has proven too much that we don't know about," Craig said.

"But for that group of players, it was important to respond from last week, that is a big change in behaviour from what we all saw last week - chalk and cheese.

"Four goals down early in the first quarter, a lesser group would have said 'here we go', coming off a 16-goal loss.

"But in contrast to last week, we were in for the fight."

Gold Coast led by 14 points at quarter-time, but were blown away in the second term when the Crows kicked seven unanswered goals.

Despite the heavy losing margin, Suns coach Guy McKenna was heartened by having only two less scoring shots than Adelaide.

"They took their chances and hurt us on the scoreboard," McKenna said.

"I just reckon there are signs that we are probably not turning the corner, but the indicator is on, if you know what I mean.

"We're starting to flash, the little flicker is going, we're not around the corner but we're coming up to it."

McKenna welcomed the Suns' looming bye, after two wins from their first seven games.

Asked if the Suns' season start exceeded his expectations, McKenna said the fledgling club was "around the mark, that is for sure".

"It's just getting that chemistry and the boys playing as many games as they can together before it actually clicks," he said.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP