West Coast was left to rue a disappointing start and couldn't overcome Adelaide despite making a late charge in a 25-point loss at Optus Stadium on Friday night. 

The Crows did their work early, racing to a 43-point lead in the second quarter and keeping their opponents at arm's length until a tight final term that saw the desperate Eagles cut the margin to 18 points. 

Crows captain Jordan Dawson stood up under pressure, however, and steered the visitors to a 15.9 (99) to 11.8 (74) win, with Ben Keays icing the game with a pair of late goals. 

The Eagles had their chances, dominating the first 10 minutes of the final term and locking the ball in their front half with the first 13 inside 50s, but the Crows were stable enough in defence to secure the much-needed win as they fight to stay in touch with the top four. 

Dawson was critical in the big moments and finished with an equal game-high 27 disposals, nine inside 50s and a goal, with his intercept marks in defence just as important as what he did in the front half. 

Midfield star Izak Rankine was electric with 27, seven clearances and a goal, while key forward Darcy Fogarty (four goals) and Keays (three) did the damage in attack after Riley Thilthorpe was withdrawn pre-game with illness. 

01:05

Starcevich nails first major for the club

Brandon Starcevich lifts the Eagles fans up out of their seats after popping through his first in his new colours

Breakout ruckman Lachie McAndrew had an entertaining battle with Bailey Williams as both teams fought for ascendency in the midfield, finishing with 38 hitouts and giving his team dominance at stoppages early before the clearance battle evened up. 

West Coast star Harley Reid (23 and six clearances) played his heart out and looked like sparking the Eagles through the fourth term, but he missed several chances and kicked 0.4. 

Key forwards Jake Waterman and Jobe Shanahan each kicked three goals, while mid-season recruit Oliver Francou made an eye-catching debut with 18 disposals and nine tackles. 

Both teams entered Friday night's clash under some pressure and needing to respond in the midfield after disappointing stoppage performances in their respective losses last week. 

Adelaide got to work at the coalface quicker and had its first goal in 16 seconds after a quick centre clearance win, kicking the first four of the game and racing to a 24-point lead as McAndrew and captain Dawson did maximum damage in the middle. 

The Eagles were forced to put young star Shanahan loose behind the ball to stop the onslaught, but it didn't help at centre ball-ups, with the Crows winning that indicator 7-1 for the quarter and kicking three of their six goals from the source. 

00:47

Shanahan sparks late charge

Jobe Shanahan keeps the Eagles in with a fighting chance after two goals in the third term

Fogarty had three and quickly added a fourth in the second quarter as the Crows built a 42-point lead before the Eagles rolled up their sleeves and responded, winning contested ball (36-30) and clearances (9-8) for the quarter. 

Waterman converted a tricky set shot, Shanahan rolled one home from long range cleverly, and Duursma was crafty under a high ball to draw a free kick and convert his set shot, cutting the margin to 30 points at the main break.  

As good as the Eagles were through the third quarter with their pressure and intent, they couldn't bridge the five-goal gap, with Adelaide punishing their skill errors to keep control of the scoreboard. 

Reid lifted and had eight disposals for the quarter, but the Crows' stars matched him, with Rankine booting a terrific goal when he danced from the inside to the outside and snapped a classy goal. 

The lead got back out to 42 points before Shanahan booted back-to-back goals on the eve of three-quarter time.  

West Coast (4-10) has a nine-day break before travelling to face the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium next Sunday.

WEST COAST   1.3   4.5   8.8   11.8 (74)
ADELAIDE       6.2   9.5   13.8   15.9 (99)

GOALS
West Coast: Shanahan 3, Waterman 3, Allan, Cole, Duursma, Starcevich, J.Williams
Adelaide: Fogarty 4, Keays 3, Soligo 2, Curtin, Dawson, T.Murray, Neal-Bullen, Rachele, Rankine

BEST
West Coast: Shanahan, Reid, Waterman, Herbert, Francou, Starcevich
Adelaide: Dawson, Rankine, Fogarty, McAndrew, Curtin, Hall-Kahan, Laird  

INJURIES
West Coast: Nil 
Adelaide: Nil 

LATE CHANGES
West Coast: Nil
Adelaide: Riley Thilthorpe (illness), replaced in the selected side by Billy Dowling

Crowd: 40,770 at Optus Stadium