ADELAIDE has come from behind to pip Melbourne by 17 points and climb to fifth on the ladder.
The Crows, after trailing for most of Saturday afternoon's thriller at Adelaide Oval, booted the last two goals for a precious 11.13 (79) to 9.8 (62) victory.
Melbourne led at the quarter breaks by eight, one and two points, but key Crow Riley Thilthorpe kicked the go-ahead goal 22 minutes into the final term.
Melbourne captain Max Gawn was superb with 28 disposals and 31 hitouts, and Jacob van Rooyen kicked three goals in a first-term blitz.
And while Kysaiah Pickett was restricted to just 15 disposals by James Peatling and forced into attack in the frenetic final term, Jake Lever, in his 200th AFL game and against his former club, was a standout in defence.
His teammates Jake Bowey (24 touches) and Daniel Turner (22) were other chief ball-winners for the visitors, who have a bye next weekend, when the Crows face home-town rival Port Adelaide.
The Demons, sparked by van Rooyen, gained an early edge by kicking 5.0 to 3.4 in the opening term when Adelaide's Izak Rankine, after a two-game injury absence, set up two of the Crows' majors with class passes.
Adelaide kicked the only two goals of a tight second stanza, with Dawson's conversion on the run from 55 metres a highlight.
Melbourne's first-term accuracy deserted it, scoring 0.6 for the quarter and it led at half-time 5.6 to 5.5.
Each team kicked three goals in a proverbial armwrestle of a third quarter when the Crows took the lead briefly.
But double strikes from Melbourne's Kade Chandler gave the visitor a two-point buffer at three-quarter time, 8.8 to 8.6.
Goalsneak Rachele then took centre stage with two goals in the last quarter, punctuated by Thilthorpe's major, as the home side banked a hard-fought triumph.
ADELAIDE 3.4 5.5 8.6 11.13 (79)
MELBOURNE 5.0 5.6 8.8 9.8 (62)
GOALS
Adelaide: Rachele 3, Fogarty 2, Dawson 2, Walker, Thilthorpe, Milera, Keays
Melbourne: van Rooyen 3, Langford 2, Jefferson 2, Chandler 2
BEST
Adelaide: Keane, Berry, Dawson, Borlase, Milera, Rachele
Melbourne: Gawn, Chandler, Sparrow, van Rooyen, Turner
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Melbourne: Nil
Crowd: TBC at Adelaide Oval
