A scintillating second half from Adelaide champion Andrew McLeod has inspired the Crows to a 17-point victory over Fremantle in an entertaining NAB Cup clash at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
Adelaide trailed by eight points early in the third quarter before McLeod sparked the home team to life.
McLeod set up two goals in quick succession to swing the momentum Adelaide's way, and the 31-year-old helped seal the deal with three goals in the final quarter, although four late goals to the Dockers added respectability to the final margin.
The Crows' 1.14.11 (104) to 1.12.6 (87) win sets up a semi-final showdown against Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium next Saturday night, while Fremantle returns to Subiaco Oval to take part in the NAB Challenge Series.
McLeod finished with 17 possessions and three goals in his new role up forward, while Ken McGregor (three goals and a super goal), Chris Knights (25 touches), Jason Porplyzia (21 touches, one goal) and Brent Reilly (23 touches) were also crucial in the win.
It was an error-riddled performance from the Dockers, who looked sensational in the opening term before a calamity of errors cost them the game.
Roger Hayden was prolific in the first half but faded badly in the second to finish with 18 touches, while Michael Johnson did some nice things through the middle and Matthew Pavlich (16 touches and a goal) and Ryan Murphy (three goals) were lively up forward.
As expected, Aaron Sandilands (25 hitouts) dominated the tap work against Adelaide's inexperienced ruck pairing of Ivan Maric and Jonathon Griffin, but the Crows applied enough pressure around the ground to force the Dockers into mistakes.
Fremantle burst out of the blocks early in the game and bolted out to a 29-6 lead on the back of a dominant midfield performance and intense pressure around the ground.
But ill-discipline cost the Dockers late in the term, with a 50-metre penalty against Steven Dodd for abusive language gifting McGregor a super goal that reduced the deficit to 12 points at the first break.
Adelaide turned the match on its head in the second term as the Crows' ferocious pressure and tackling put Fremantle on the back foot.
After looking so calm and composed in the opening quarter, the Dockers turned the ball over time and time again in the second stanza as the Crows took control of the contest.
Adelaide slammed on four goals to one for the quarter with the aid of a slight breeze to take a handy 10-point advantage into half-time.
It was the Pavlich show early in the third term as the Fremantle forward set up Brett Peake for a goal before booting one himself to catapult Fremantle back into the lead.
But just as the Dockers looked set to build a handy lead, McLeod hit back for the Crows, setting up McGregor and Tyson Edwards for goals as the home side headed to the final change with a 10-point advantage.
And McLeod was at it again early in the final term, kicking three goals, including two great snaps from the pocket, to help put the game to bed.
ADELAIDE: 1.1.2, 1.5.7, 1.8.8, 1.14.11 (104)
FREMANTLE: 1.3.2, 1.4.3, 1.7.4, 1.12.6 (87)
SUPER GOALS: Adelaide:: McGregor
Fremantle:: Pavlich
GOALS: Adelaide:: McGregor 3, McLeod 3, Edwards 2, Goodwin, Porplyzia, Tippett, Sellar, Stevens, Van Berlo
Fremantle:: Murphy 3, Solomon 2, Pavlich, Peake, M.Carr, McManus, Mark Johnson, Farmer, Palmer
BEST: Adelaide: McLeod, Knights, Reilly, Thompson, Johncock, McGregor, Edwards, Porplyzia
Fremantle: Hayden, Pavlich, Murphy, McPharlin, Solomon
INJURIES: Adelaide: Bock (corked thigh), Goodwin (hamstring)
Fremantle: Nil
REPORTS: Nil