A dominant second half from the Adelaide Crows has seen them run out big winners over the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.
After leading by just three points at half-time the Crows burst into the second half with 10 unanswered goals, consigning the Bulldogs to a 59-point loss at Adelaide Oval in front of a crowd of 41,948.
Crows forwards Josh Jenkins and skipper Taylor Walker combined for seven goals on their way to the 16.8 (104) to 5.15 (45) victory.
The Crows (11-4) return to the top of the ladder, but will be back in second spot if Greater Western Sydney defeats Hawthorn on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs (7-8) have now lost four of their past five games to put their aspirations of reaching the finals in serious doubt.
Crows club champion Rory Sloane (24 possessions, 10 contested) enjoyed the freedom of not having a tagger for the first time in several weeks.
However, the Crows followed the lead set by the rest of the competition and sent Riley Knight to shut down the influence of running defender Jason Johannisen.
Last year's Norm Smith Medallist was held to just 16 possessions.
Johannisen will also leave South Australia with a headache after Walker shoved him into the behind post.
In-demand Crows defender Jake Lever (22 possessions at 90 per cent efficiency, 11 marks) added more value to his next contract with another outstanding performance.
For the Bulldogs, Toby McLean led the way with 31 possessions while Jack Macrae had 27.
Along with hitting the scoreboard, Jenkins and Walker controlled the air and marked everything in sight.
In wet and slippery conditions, the Crows led by just three points at half-time after Bailey Dale and Jake Stringer kicked the last two goals of the second quarter.
But the Crows burst of the blocks in the third term with Walker taking a superb contested mark.
Goals to Matt Crouch (a team-high 32 disposals) and Josh Jenkins extended the Crows' advantage before Betts turned in a bit of trademark brilliance.
The champion small forward maintained his balance on the slippery surface, kicking the ball off the ground.
Brad Crouch (24 disposals) delivered a strong tackle on Dale to force the ball loose, Walker pouncing and kicking the goal to extend the lead to 33 points.
The Crows pushed the margin out to 61 points before Luke Dahlhaus kicked the Bulldogs' first goal of the second half at the 17-minute mark of the last quarter.
The Bulldogs held a two-point lead at quarter-time, but it was the second term where they butchered their chance to win the game.
A return of two goals from 20 Inside 50s simply isn't good enough.
ADELAIDE 2.2 5.5 12.5 16.8 (104)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.4 4.8 4.11 5.15 (45)
GOALS
Adelaide: Jenkins 4, Walker 3, Betts 2, Knight, Sloane, Atkins, M.Crouch, B.Crouch, Douglas, Cameron
Western Bulldogs: Stringer, Redpath, Suckling, Dale, Dahlhaus
BEST
Adelaide: Walker, Jenkins, Sloane, Lever, Otten, Laird, M.Crouch
Western Bulldogs: McLean, Bontempelli, Hunter
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Chamberlain, Fleer, Meredith
Official crowd: 41,948
