Adelaide put the clamps on Carlton's prime movers Chris Judd and Brendan Fevola and was richly rewarded with the four premiership points in Saturday's Round 6 clash at the MCG.

The Crows seized the initiative with a six-goal-to-two third quarter to claim their fourth win for 2008 by 30 points - 16.15 (111) to 11.15 (81) - in a formulaic encounter where short and wide options were preferred throughout the day to hard, physical contests.

Fevola, whose 22 goals over the past three weeks were so crucial to Carlton's wins over Collingwood and Melbourne, was held to just six touches and 1.3 by a defensive troika comprising Ben Rutten, Scott Stevens and Nathan Bock.

Robert Shirley tormented Judd in limiting the Blues skipper to 15 possessions, though Judd did manage to slip away for two final-term goals when the contest was already lost.

For the Crows, Scott Thompson (33 disposals) and Tyson Edwards (29) won plenty of ball, but veterans Andrew McLeod and Simon Goodwin were among the best as usual.

Adelaide rotated Bock and Stevens in the hole early to keep a watch on Fevola, and the tactic worked brilliantly, even after Fevola's primary carer, Rutten, was forced out of the game with a lower back injury late in the second quarter.

By that time, however, the Blues already had two players - Bret Thornton and Adam Hartlett - done for the day.

Thornton lasted less than 10 minutes with a knee, while Hartlett suffered a recurrence of the hamstring issues that have dogged his career.

Their injuries left the Blues short at each end, literally, and would have a huge impact on Brett Ratten's rotations.

Eddie Betts' two opening term goals were the difference as the Blues turned 16 points to the good, but their lead was wiped out inside the first 10 minutes of the second quarter as Kurt Tippet, Richard Douglas and Brett Burton made it three straight for the visitors.

The Blues regained the advantage, however, through goals to composed first-gamer Steven Browne and Cameron Cloke.

The third term - and, as it turned out, the match - hinged on three crucial Carlton clangers and one flash of Adelaide brilliance.

First, there were two shocking turnovers deep in defence by Bryce Gibbs and Matthew Kreuzer which gifted goals to Goodwin and Jason Porplyzia.

Then, with the Blues still in front, just, and looking to consolidate, Jordan Russell won a free for a super tackle on Doughty 30 out,