In a tumultuous week leading up to Balfours Showdown XXXI that saw long-serving Crows coach Neil Craig resign, all Power players and coaches - from midfielder Matt Thomas to skipper Dom Cassisi and coach Matthew Primus - made it clear that a week of turmoil at West Lakes would not affect their focus.

After having the bye, the Power made one forced change, losing Ben Jacobs to a quad injury but bringing back key forward Justin Westhoff for his first game since being a victim of ‘turf toe’.

He was straight into the starting line-up, with Steve Salopek, Cameron O’Shea and Kane Cornes starting on the bench, alongside Round 19 sub Mitch Banner.

The Crows won the opening centre contest, but the Power spread well from defence, with Cassisi having a shot on goal that failed to hit the target - the defensive press locked the ball inside then a long range shot at goal from Hartlett sailed wide.

The press kept the ball inside the forward half, and eventually Chad Cornes was able to get free inside 50, mark, go back and goal after 2.07. Walker answered soon after with a kick off the ground.

A fantastic defensive mark running with the flight by Trengove in the 6th minute was superb - the sort of desperation and desire you just love to see - the Power worked it forward where Chad took a one-hander, ran in, and missed, but the downfield free to Hitchcock after being flattened by Johncock saw him have another shot - which also sailed wide.

Some dropped marks hurt the Power, with the Crows able to work the ball around the forward 50 arc until Ottens - who had drifted forward - had a mark and then long shot on goal that was true.

A nice bit of spread alongside the outer wing came to nought, as a failure to hit targets cost a scoring opportunity, with the ball rebounding out of the forward 50. The ball rebounded quickly, but went out of bounds - from the throw-in inside 50 for the Crows, Lobbe fell into Jacobs back who earned a free 20m out on a slight angle. He hit the post.

The Power failed to clear from the kick-in and the Crows won a free kick, worked the ball forward, and Gunston got an easy handball over the top for a third goal for the Crows.

The basic errors the Power were making - from dropped marks under no pressure to simple handballs missing targets - were helping the Crows, but most certainly costing the Power. A crumbed kick by Cassisi sailed wide. Some more atrocious skill errors - up-and-under kicks, missed handballs, balls being overrun - were costing the Power as Henderson missed another set shot on goal for the Crows.

An ordinary kick inside 50 from O’Shea fell into Hitchcock’s lap from a tumbling floater that was a lucky kick more than an intended one. Hitchcock’s set shot failed to make the distance, and the ball was rushed through, then Dangerfield missed a running shot on goal after a bizarre instance where Trengove was given a free, a Power player picked up the loose ball, was immediately tackled, then pinged for holding the ball.

QUARTER TIME: 1.5.11 to 3.4.22. Goal: Chad Cornes. Possessions: Boak 10, Hitchcock 9, Cassisi and Hartlett 7, Salter 6.

The Power were clearly lacking an ability to get hands on the ball at stoppages - at quarter time it was 40-29 in contested possessions, and 11-4 clearances, with the Crows beginning the second term with a similar level of dominance. Only a hard chase by Chaplin stopped Gunston running into an open goal.

Hartlett earned a free on 50, and his kicking boot was definitely not on, with his low kick sailing wide, and after Chad gave away a free kick at a boundary contest on the wing, the Crows streamed forward and Chaplin missed a content, with Wright running onto a free ball and goaling accordingly. A nice bit of skill from Henderson allowed Sloane to boot another.

A hilarious bit of comedy saw Schulz clearly throw the ball over his head as Ebert ran forward trying to get forward to goal, and was paid against him, before a set shot from Chad was wide. Schulz pulled down a strong contested grab at the 14 minute mark and the Power finally had their second goal of the game.

A set shot from Henderson was true, to extend the margin back beyond 20 points once more. Finally the Power won a centre clearance, and Rodan received the ball from Salopek. After some time spent thinking, he hit Gray - unfortunately his set shot was inaccurate.

Error after error saw Wright finally able to snap a goal for the Crows despite their seemingly desire to make skill errors too, while another centre clearance saw Hitchcock running into goal on the boundary, but his shot was wide.

An absolute screamer by Schulz at the 23 minute mark came after an outstanding kick by Hartlett, and he did the right thing by goaling after the high-flyer.

Another example of the skill errors that were costing Port saw another attacking move come to nothing, before eventually a bit of zip through the middle from Rodan hit up Trengove on the 50 arc, who then chipped wide to Hitchcock - his set shot was centimetre perfect.

Gunston goaled almost immediately to stretch the lead back out to 21 points, then after winning the centre stoppage once more Van Berlo missed a set shot on the siren.

HALF TIME: 4.9.33 to 8.7.55. Goals: Schulz 2, C Cornes, Hitchcock. Possessions: Boak 16, Pearce 14, Hartlett, Hitchcock and Thomas all with 12, Cassisi and Salter 11.

The key to a strong second half would be winning some contested ball - at half-time the Power were being smashed at stoppages, 72 to 57 in contested possessions, and 22-10 in clearances.

Once more the Crows won the ball with ease out of the centre, with Petrenko missing a dribbler around the corner.

Finally the Power were able to get some effective spread, with Westhoff the beneficiary, marking alone in the square and goaling. Some more stoppage wins saw Ebert mark on the lead, and his kick was true, reducing the margin to 11 points, before Jacobs earned a free at a ruck contest inside 50 and goaled.

Sadly, Schulz seemed to jag his hamstring going for another big mark, but Ebert continued to present across the forward line, marking and goaling once mark to make it a 12 point margin as Schulz was subbed off for Banner.

The Crows cleared the ball down the outer wing following a free against Chad for a high tackle across half-forward, and Doughty snapped a goal.

A free kick for Westhoff saw a long kick go forward in the 16 minute mark, with Chad plucking a one-hander and booting the goal high into the northern stand.

The Crows won a stoppage across the half-forward line for the Power and cleared through the pace of Sloane, who ran into forward 50 for a goal. A terrible error going into the middle of the ground saw the Crows stream forward, Walker marked, then goaled.

A dropped mark by Henderson saw the Power move the ball through the middle of the ground, with Boak finding Hitchcock - his kick snuck home.

The Power worked hard to get the ball inside forward 50 - having it in there for 5 mins - but when the Crows got the ball they spread it wide well and Walker marked, goaling after the siren.

THREE-QUARTER TIME: 9.10.64 to 12.10.88. Goals: Schulz 2, Ebert 2, Hitchcock 2, C Cornes 2, Westhoff. Possessions: Boak 21, Pearce 20, Hartlett 18, Thomas 16, Gray and Hitchcock 15, Salter 14.

A terrible error by Logan going towards goal saw the ball turned over in the corridor, with Walker on the end of a chain of possessions to goal again.

A couple of misses for the Power were symptomatic of the day the club was having, with opportunities not being taken when the chance was there, whereas Maric was able to conjure something out of nothing and goal for the Crows with a snap around the body.

Gutsy stuff from Trengove down back to cut off the lead of Walker, but it came to nought as Knights hit up Dangerfield for another shot on goal, which was inaccurate.

Attacking moves came and went, but the Power simply couldn’t put scoreboard pressure on, with O’Shea giving away a 50 metre penalty, then a wrestle taking place - the AFL will be sure to count the pennies from it - as McKay booted another goal for the Crows.

Terrible errors compounded Port’s problems, with errant kicks setting the Crows up to stream forward and have another shot at goal once more through Van Berlo.

Finally the Power were able to hit a target inside 50, with Ebert marking, but looking proppy after doing so. His long range shit was well wide of the mark, sailing out on the full.

Gray won the ball from the clearing 50 kick, with Hitchcock then having a shot from 50, and nailing his third of the game and the first Power goal for the term.

Thomas earned a free just inside the 50 metre arc, and his kick was superb, straight over the goal umpire’s hat.

The Crows were simply too strong in Balfours Showdown XXXI, winning well in the end as Mark Bickley tasted victory in the first match of his time at the helm of the Adelaide Football Club.

FINAL SCORE: 11.13.79 to 16.15.111.

Goals: Hitchcock 3, C Cornes, Schulz, Ebert 2, Westhoff, Thomas.

Possessions: Boak 29, Pearce 25, Hartlett 23, Gray 21, Trengove 20, Hitchcock, Logan and Thomas all 18, Salter 17.

Crowd: 40,586.