ADELAIDE has urged into the top eight with an 105-point humiliation of the Brisbane Lions that has been soured by serious injuries to Andy Otten and Tom Lynch.
Forward target Lynch was taken to hospital for X-rays to his neck while defender Otten may require a second knee reconstruction after appearing to rupture his anterior cruciate ligament.
Both were carried off the Gabba in the second quarter on a warm Brisbane day but the undermanned Crows hardly missed a beat in a second-half cakewalk.
The 25.18 (168) to 9.9 (63) victory means they leapfrog both Essendon and Gold Coast on the ladder, thanks to their strong percentage, reviving their hopes of hosting an elimination final in the process.
Adelaide's midfield, outplayed by West Coast in last week's loss and without Scott Thompson (hamstring), was dominant after the home side made a sparkling start to kick three of the first four goals.
Jacobs who quickly got them on top by dominating the stoppages against Stefan Martin, while Rory Sloane (28 disposals and two goals) was also integral to their charge to a 44-point half-time lead.
Tom Rockliff was outstanding for the home side, with 40 disposals, 10 marks, 10 tackles and a goal to his credit. Stefan Martin worked hard in the ruck, managing 26 disposals to go with his 30 hit-outs.
After limiting their past five opponents to just 66points per game, the Lions' backmen were embarrassed in front of a crowd of19,657.
Lions coach Justin Leppitsch said his team took a stepback after successive wins.
"We were bullied today," he said.
"The last quarter-and-a-half they really decidedto kill us as opposed to ease up on us, which made the scoreboard blow out.
"We're going to have games where our energy leveldips but we can't have our competitive nature drop as well, that was probablythe most disappointing part."
Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson had been worried about the heat on a 25-degree sunny Brisbane day and made an unsuccessful request for a lift in the interchange cap.
But he ultimately had little to worry about as his players, full of run, enjoyed the club's biggest-ever win over the Lions.
BRISBANE LIONS 4.0 6.3 7.7 9.9 (63)
ADELAIDE 6.3 12.11 16.14 25.18 (168)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Crisp 3, Green 2, Mayes, Rockliff, Zorko, McStay
Adelaide: Walker 6, Martin 3, Betts 3, Jacobs 2, Sloane 2, Lynch 2, Lyons, Wright, Jaensch, Cameron, Jenkins, Dangerfield, Grigg
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Rockliff, Hanley, Martin, Zorko, Crisp
Adelaide: Jacobs, Wright, Sloane, Walker, Betts, Crouch, Lyons
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: TBC
Adelaide: Lynch (head), Otten (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane Lions: Marco Paparone replaced Justin Clarke at half-time
Adelaide: Mitch Grigg replaced Tom Lynch in the second quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Bannister, Stephens, Mollison
Official crowd:19,657 at the Gabba
