Richmond pushed premiership contenders Adelaide to the wire on Saturday night, before the Crows escaped with a nine-point win to keep their top four hopes alive. 

The Crows came from 13 points down in the third quarter to triumph 9.9 (63) to 7.12 (54) at a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Adelaide (56 premiership points) are fifth on the ladder, just 0.2 per cent behind fourth-placed Brisbane.

Star Crow Izak Rankine was a standout with a career-high 37 disposals, one goal and a dozen clearances, and skipper Jordan Dawson was influential with 35 touches and a goal.

Richmond's Seth Campbell bagged three goals, teammate Mykelti Lefau scored two, Jack Ross (28 touches) and Patrick Retschko (24) were busy, and mid-season rookie draftee Kye Annand impressed with a match-high eight marks.

Nick Vlastuin was also a brick wall in defence, recording 13 intercept possessions.

The Tigers held a 2.2 to 1.3 lead at quarter-time, with Adelaide's flat opening prompting coach Matthew Nicks to give his players a serve at the break.

The Crows scored three goals to none in the initial 14 minutes of the second term to create a 12-point advantage but, as heavy rain fell to make an error-riddled contest even more challenging, the Tigers hit back.

Steely Green and Campbell booted goals to shrink their deficit to one point at halftime, 4.5 to 4.4.

Campbell's influence magnified in the third term when he slotted two more goals to give the Tigers a 13-point break and alarm the 42,762-strong pro-Adelaide crowd.

Richmond's advantage should have been greater, but stalwart Tom Lynch missed three gettable goal chances before Adelaide responded with two moments of magic.

First, Callum Ah Chee kicked a sensational goal on the run from 55 metres in the driving rain. And 10 minutes later, the dynamic Rankine scored a classy goal from 50m out, also on the run.

Rankine's stunner was followed by another Ah Chee major as Adelaide reclaimed the lead - four points ahead at three-quarter-time. 

Adelaide veteran Taylor Walker extended the home side's lead to 10 points before the Tigers rallied again.

A Hugo Ralphsmith goal was followed by Sam Lalor missing a close-range set shot that would have put the visitors in front.

Instead, they were four points down and Adelaide's Zac Taylor sealed victory with a 50m set shot with under four minutes remaining.

Mykelti Lefau is one of the season’s best stories
Some may look at Richmond's 2026 goal kickers and scoff at a 28-year-old journeyman topping a modest list (20 goals) on a team set to finish bottom two, but when you consider Mykelti Lefau's career-best season two years removed from back-to-back ACL ruptures, it is a remarkable effort from the New Zealand-born livewire. Lefau has provided a reliable option for a Tigers side focused on development and he deserves enormous credit. In a gritty arm-wrestle, his two early goals in a courageous loss were another shining light for Adem Yze's Tigers.

ADELAIDE   1.3   4.5   7.7   9.9 (63)
RICHMOND   2.2   4.4   6.9   7.12 (54)

GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 2, Ah Chee 2, Taylor, Rankine, Dawson, Cumming, Cook
Richmond: Campbell 3, Lefau 2, Ralphsmith, Green

BEST
Adelaide: Rankine, Dawson, Walker, O'Brien, Ah Chee
Richmond: Campbell, Vlastuin, Nankervis, Lefau, Miller 

INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Richmond: Nil 

Crowd: 42,762 at Adelaide Oval