The Crows took a big step forwards tonight with their win at the SCG (Getty Images/AFL Photos)

So that's all we have for you for tonight.

Congratulations to the Crows on a vital win, and there will be some big discussions for the Swans as they review that one.

Second place on the ladder is now open, after Sydney's back-to-back losses. Who can take advantage?

We will be back tomorrow for four more games on a big footy Saturday, starting with Port Adelaide against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval.

Then we'll have North Melbourne taking on Melbourne, before the night games see a Collingwood-Carlton cracker at the MCG, and West Coast hosting Brisbane in the west.

We'll see you then. But for now, this is Andrew McGarry thanking you for joining us and wishing you a very good night.

• Rd 20: vs GWS (Sydney Showground)

• Rd 21: vs St Kilda (Docklands)

• Rd 22: vs Port Adelaide (SCG)

• Rd 23: vs Essendon (MCG)

• Rd 24: vs North Melbourne (SCG)

The biggest hurdle left for Sydney might be the Battle of the Bridge next week, although St Kilda at Docklands might not be straightforward.

The Swans will not be able to afford any more slip-ups from here if they want to finish top two.

Darcy Fogarty kicked four vital goals as the Crows beat Sydney at the SCG (Getty Images/AFL Photos)

Adelaide have heaped misery on Sydney, pulling off a hard-earned 16-point win in a wet-weather scrap at the SCG.

With the scores level at 10.8 (68) apiece in the fourth quarter, a desperate Luke Nankervis launched the Crows ahead en route to a 13.9 (87) to 10.11 (71) victory on Friday night.

Adelaide stamped their premiership credentials while dealing a blow to fellow flag fancies Sydney, condemning the second-placed Swans (13-5) to their first defeat at the SCG this season.

Last year's minor premiers, the Crows (12-6) can finish the round as high as third after claiming a third straight win.

Darcy Fogarty kicked four goals for Adelaide, but the star forward is sure to draw scrutiny after his high tackle on Harry Cunningham in the second quarter left his Swans opponent concussed.

Izak Rankine played a crucial role in the Adelaide engine room with one goal, 30 disposals and eight clearances.

He was well supported by James Peatling, while Mark Keane and Nankervis stood firm in defence.

Sydney have now lost their past three matches against top-six sides, following dismal defeats to Brisbane and Fremantle.

They remain second (13-5), with a four-point buffer against Adelaide.

Isaac Heeney shook off a lower-back issue to lead the home side with 29 disposals and four clearances.

The midfield superstar had sent a scare through the Swans camp in the third quarter, hobbling off sore after a contest for the ball with Crows forward Riley Thilthorpe.

Tom Papley also bagged four goals in his second game back from a calf injury, while Braeden Campbell kicked a major in his first AFL game of the year after a pre-season shin stress fracture.

Sydney started brightly with the first two goals, but it was all Adelaide in the opening term.

With 32 uncontested marks to Sydney's seven, the Crows punished the home side from turnovers to slam through five unanswered goals and take a 21-point lead at quarter-time.

Swans superstar Chad Warner got on the back of Nankervis to bring down a brilliant mark, only to cough up possession with a shoddy kick to Adelaide defender Keane.

Warner made amends after the break by hitting the scoreboard, before livewire Papley fired off back-to-back goals to help Sydney eat into Adelaide's game-high 27-point lead.

With eight points the difference at halftime, midfielder James Rowbottom mimicked Papley with two straight goals to give Sydney a six-point lead at the final break.

But it was Fogarty's turn to bag a double to kick off the final quarter, setting up a tense finish at the SCG

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• Rd 20: vs Collingwood (Adelaide Oval)

• Rd 21: vs Essendon (Docklands)

• Rd 22: vs Richmond (Adelaide Oval)

• Rd 23: vs Fremantle (Perth Stadium)

• Rd 24: vs GWS (Adelaide Oval)

Next week is going to be some game against Collingwood at Adelaide Oval for the Crows, then it's the Dockers in Perth in round 23.

With the Crows missing the rested Taylor Walker, they needed their forwards to step up. And Darcy Fogarty definitely did that.

His four goals add up to 18 for the last month of footy.

The issue for "the Fog" is his high shot on Sydney's Harry Cunningham which saw the Swans player ruled out of the game.

You'd have to think there's a decent chance that Fogarty might be mentioned in dispatches in the Match Review Officer's report. 

he may have been stressed during the game, but Matthew Nicks was a happy Crows coach afterwards (Getty Images/AFL photos)

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has been speaking to Fox Footy after that brilliant win.

"That was some win!" Nicks said with relief as well as a grin.

"We hadn't been at our best in the last two quarters, but they were a goal down.

"We just knew we had to get our mojo back, we had a laugh and yell, and a scream, and let it out."

Nicks said the last quarter, the contest and territory made the difference.

"We lost our way in the second and third quarter, we got a bit cute.

"It was disappointing in the third term, but to do it in the back and finish strongly, you can feel the emotion in the room." 

• Inside 50s: 59-56 Sydney

• Clearances: 51-38 Adelaide

• Centre clearances: 13-13

• Contested possessions: 166-149 Adelaide

• Uncontested possessions: 226-177 Adelaide

• Marks inside 50: 10-4 Adelaide

• Tackles: 72-59 Adelaide

• Tackles inside 50: 19-5 Adelaide

The Crows delivered when it counted, and that insane forward pressure could well have made the difference, with 19 tackles inside forward 50.

It wasn't just the big forwards who got the job done for the visitors!

Darcy Fogarty's four goals made the difference as Adelaide beat the Swans on the road in the wet (Getty Images)

 The siren sounds, and that is one hell of a big win for the Adelaide Crows!

They looked almost done at times in the final term, but they just had the better finishing.

Darcy Fogarty's  three final quarter goals were vital, and Riley Thilthorpe's brilliant finish put it away.

Tom Papley's four goals was a good sign for the Swans, and they had plenty of moments, but they didn't get it done, they lose their unbeaten run at the SCG, and now top two is not guaranteed.

Lots to ponder for Dean Cox's men, but a brilliant night for the Crows.

The Crows have got this!

They went down the line like they have all night, and Riley Thilthorpe has clunked a mark in the pocket.

The crowd is on edge ... and Thilthorpe nails the kick!

He smiles, goes to the fence line and holds his arms wide as if to say "thanks for coming, Sydney".

Under three minutes, 18 points the lead.

The desperation is rising, Tom Papley has a snap for the Swans, and he misses.

Twelve points in it, five to go.

This is a huge effort from the visitors! Brilliant mark by James Borlase in front of Charlie Curnow in the wet in the square.

Heeney went for it, but the Swans can't afford to miss any more of these set-ups.

We are under six minutes on the clock.

I shudder to think what the pressure metrics are right now.

Oh there you go, it's 222 for Sydney, 223 for Adelaide.

The Crows are winning the clearances now, and all they need to do for the moment is even the contests.

Sydney is struggling to get the ball clear of their half, and time is beginning to tick down.

Big error from Sydney there!

hayden McLean gets the centre clearance, but his kick is chopped off by the Crows, and they kick inside 50 to hit Darcy Fogarty.

Fogarty kicks it! Adelaide leads by 13, with under 10 to go.

The pressure and desperation is huge out there.

The ball goes inside 50 for Adelaide, Nick Blakey tries to clear, but he is put off just at the last minute, the ball trickles to Luke Nankervis, and he drills the ball through!

The Crows lead by five.

Both sides are looking tired here at the SCG.

We are nearly halfway through the final quarter.

The Crows get the ball forward a booming kick from about 60 is punched through.

The visitors lead by a point.

The Crows have the momentum, but the Swans aren't impressed.

They surge it forward, it bounces inside the arc and who is there but Tom Papley, and he swings his boot at it and kicks the goal!

The crowd goes bananas! The Swans draw level.

Plenty of time to go here. Breathe, people! 

The Crows are not going away, they find their way forward, it goes inside 50. Josh Rachele bursts and then handballs clear for Darcy Fogarty to kick the goal.

The crowd goes quiet! The Crows are in front.

Great play from Rachele to set up "The Velvet Fog"...

We are on here for a hell of a finish.