The Tigers booted five goals to one in a crowd-lifting final quarter, cutting a 46-point deficit in the opening minutes of the term.
Playing their first premiership game on the Gold Coast for 18 years, the Tigers fought out the game well but paid the price for too many skill errors and handballs which got them into trouble.
Robin Nahas (four goals) was damaging with his skill and pace, proving a potent attacking weapon through the midfield and up forward.
Shane Tuck (33 disposals), Ben Cousins (30) and Brett Deledio (31) won plenty of the ball while Mitch Morton, with eight marks, provided a strong marking target up forward.
But Adelaide’s superior pressure and ability to capitalise on turnovers proved the difference. Kurt Tippett’s bag of five goals was also handy.
Jack Riewoldt switched between full-back and full-forward but failed to have a major impact until the final quarter when he booted a goal and took a screamer.
The Crows capitalised on Richmond’s indecision in the first quarter, booting five goals before the Tigers managed to get their first through Tom Hislop in the 22nd minute.
Richmond tried to be too cute, over handballing, trying to break tackles when they should have kicked and passing the ball directly to opposition players on several occasions.
Free kicks in defence resulted in goals to Tippett and Chris Knights early on.
Nahas missed a goal in the first minute but made up for it 25 minutes later, baulking and goaling to keep the Tigers within 20 points at the first change.
Tuck drove the engine room for Richmond, racking up 18 first-half disposals.
Deledio went missing in action early as he took on more of a tagging role but found his feet in the second term, cutting loose and winning the ball more consistently.
For Adelaide, Scott Stevens and Tippett provided great marking targets, only inaccurate kicking preventing the game from being an early blowout.
At the other end, Riewoldt wasn’t getting the same silver service, taking just two marks for the first half and missing set shots early in the third and again in the fourth quarter.
He started finding the ball when he switched to full-back late in the second term as the Tigers created two loose men in defence to try to stem the tide.
The tactic worked in patches, with Nahas and Deledio combining to set up Daniel Jackson, who booted his first goal for the year.
Nahas also had a hand in Richard Tambling’s second-quarter goal and was shaping as the Tigers' most damaging midfielder.
Morton got his name on the scoreboard just before half time after a great darting run and pass by Shane Edwards, but his missed set shot after the half time siren was a blow.
The Tigers came out with enthusiasm in the third term, but Riewoldt’s missed shot at one end was quickly followed by an elegant running goal from the boundary by Jason Porplyzia.
When Stevens booted his second a minute later, Richmond were 39 points down and their race seemed all but run, yet Nahas gave them hope when he booted two quick goals in succession in the third term.
Deledio’s long bomb left them just 21 points behind, but it was an obsession with handballing that proved their undoing again as McLeod pounced on an error, bagging his first goal.
Nathan Foley was playing injured and limped off late in the third term just before David Mackay snapped his second major to give Adelaide a 34-point lead.
The margin was 40 points by the final change, but goals to Angus Graham, Riewoldt, Morton and Nahas and Daniel Jackson in the final term added some respectability to the scoreline.
Adelaide 5.3 9.6 14.9 15.12.102
Richmond 2.1 5.3 8.5 13.7.85
GOALS
Adelaide: Tippett 5, Mackay 2, Stevens 2, Knights 2, Thompson, Douglas, Porplyzia, McLeod
Richmond: Nahas 4, Jackson 2, Morton 2, Hislop, Tambling, Deledio, Graham, Riewoldt
BEST
Adelaide: McLeod, Johncock, Tippett, Edwards, Stevens, Thompson, Bock
Richmond: Nahas, Tuck, Cousins, Jackson, Hislop, Deledio, Tambling
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Richmond: Nathan Foley (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Sully, Wenn, Pannell
Official crowd: 11,174 at Gold Coast Stadium
