Adelaide has gone from smoky to genuine premiership contender after thrashing an undermanned Essendon by 96 points in the elimination final at AAMI Stadium on Friday.

After a tight first quarter, an eight goal to two second term saw the Crows open up a 39-point lead at half-time.

They extended their advantage to 61 points in the third stanza before it was party time in the one-way fourth to win 26.10 (166) to 10.10 (70) in front of a crowd of 50,393.

The attendance is the best for a final at AAMI Stadium and the second best turn-out at West Lakes.

After entering the clash hot favourites, the result would've been somewhat of a relief for the Crows and their coach Neil Craig who have lost their past three finals.

But the players ignored the record with the home team notching its fourth win in a row. In the past two weeks they've posted 53.24 and won by an average of 84 points.

Adelaide will play the loser of the qualifying final between St Kilda and Collingwood in a Saturday-night semi-final on September 12.

The Crows had 13 different goal kickers with Jason Porplyzia (five majors) and Kurt Tippett (four) making every opportunity count.

Bernie Vince was pushed and shoved all night but was still an influential player, veteran Andrew McLeod enjoyed some freedom and was damaging with his long kicking, while Scott Stevens and Michael Doughty were successful in their shutdown roles on Jobe Watson and Michael Hurley.

Essendon went into the clash as massive underdogs with captain Matthew Lloyd, Paddy Ryder and Sam Lonergan suspended before the game while ruckman Tom Bellchambers was a late out before the match.

The changes hurt the Bombers who were smashed in the hitouts (64-18) and in the clearances (45-24).

Adelaide's runner ran through the mark and gifted Angus Monfries with Essendon's first goal of the contest but the Bombers were definitely not a charity case in the early stages.

The visitors' trademark run was a feature of the first quarter and with 22 more handballs than the Crows were moving the ball quickly.

And when former Crow Hayden Skipworth slotted one from 50-metres the scores were even.

However Adelaide dominated the clearances and a running Richard Douglas responding quickly to give the home side a lead at the first change.

Scoring bursts at the start and end of the second quarter saw the Crows take control of the clash.

They kicked three goals in the opening six