Taylor Walker's brilliant five-goal haul has propelled Adelaide to a 52-point trouncing of St Kilda which lifts the Crows into the top eight.

With their 19.7 (121) to 10.9 (69) victory on Sunday at Adelaide Oval, the Crows banked their highest score under fourth-year coach Matthew Nicks.

And the belting is by far the biggest loss in the second coming at the Saints of coach Ross Lyon.

Get your 2023 Indigenous Guernsey as we celebrate our ganbu marnang n'uther boolong

Walker kicked 5.0 and took eight marks while Izak Rankine, Darcy Fogarty and Luke Pedlar had two goals each as Adelaide scored more than a century for the fourth time this season.

Halfbacks Wayne Milera (26 disposals) and Brodie Smith (32) were dominant and Crows midfielders Jordan Dawson (33 touches) and Jake Soligo (22, one goal) were stand-outs.

St Kilda's previous defeats this season were by six and seven points.

Round 9 v Adelaide
  • 04:59

    RD9 | All the goals v Adelaide

    Relive all St Kilda goals from the Saints' Round 9 defeat to Adelaide.

    AFL
    Video
  • 02:08

    RD9 | Marshall's tap work masterclass

    See the best bits of Rowan Marshall's dominant performance in the ruck against the Crows.

    AFL
    Video
  • 14:40

    RD9 | Mini-Match: Adelaide v St Kilda

    Extended highlights of the Crows and Saints clash in round nine.

    AFL
    Video
  • 02:12

    RD9 | 'We didn't capitalise': Wood post-game

    Mason Wood speaks to STK Media following the Saints' 52-point loss on the road at the hands of Adelaide.

    AFL
    Video
  • 06:47

    RD9 | 'We'll get back on the horse': Lyon post-game press conference

    Watch St Kilda's press conference after round nine's match against Adelaide.

    AFL
    Press Conference
  • 08:17

    RD9 | Highlights v Adelaide

    The Crows and Saints clash in round nine.

    AFL
    Video
  • 01:22

    RD9 | Saints suffer blow with Membrey concussed after big mark

    St Kilda's Tim Membrey leaves the field woozy after crashing hard following this strong grab.

    AFL
    Video
  • 00:42

    RD9 | Caminiti comes back with sneaky soccer

    Anthony Caminiti marks his return with a clever kick off the deck to earn a much-needed major for St Kilda.

    AFL
    Video
  • 01:45

    The No. 35 lives on: Harvey presents Sinclair with milestone guernsey

    Assistant coach and club legend Robert Harvey presents fellow No. 35 Jack Sinclair his playing guernsey ahead of the latter's 150th game.

    AFL
    Video
  • 01:23

    Scintillating Sinclair at his very best

    Sit back, relax and enjoy the very best of All-Australian Jack Sinclair ahead of his 150th senior game this weekend.

    AFL
    Video
  • 09:46

    Lyon with latest on forward stocks, return to Adelaide

    Ross Lyon fronts the media ahead of the Saints' Round 9 clash with Adelaide.

    AFL
    Press Conference

Adelaide, with its fifth win, replace Carlton in eighth spot.

The Crows cracked St Kilda early with a stylish 6.2 to 1.1 opening term - the highest scoring quarter against the Saints this year.

SAINTS MATCH CENTRE: View all news, stats and videos from Round 9

And when winger Chayce Jones converted a classy running goal just 45 seconds into the second quarter, the Crows were in command with a 37-point lead.

St Kilda responded to the crisis with four of the next six majors to sneak within 21 points, but that was the closest the Saints came to the lead.

Luke Pedlar breaks clear of Hunter Clark. Photo: AFL Photos.

Adelaide held a 10.2 to 5.5 halftime advantage and skipped 42 points clear after further strikes from Rankine and Walker.

Midway through the third term Adelaide led 84-42, passing the previous highest score in an entire game against the Saints' tight defence this year.

And St Kilda's cause took another hit when forward Tim Membrey, on the ground after a marking contest, was landed on by teammate Jack Higgins and heavily concussed.

01:22

RD9 | Saints suffer blow with Membrey concussed after big mark

St Kilda's Tim Membrey leaves the field woozy after crashing hard following this strong grab.

The Crows then piled on six of the next seven goals as they cruised to victory.

Former Crow Brad Crouch topped St Kilda's ball-winners with 30 disposals and Hunter Clark (24) and Jack Steele (23) also battled against the flow.

Saint Jack Higgins slotted three goals and Anthony Caminiti, on return from suspension, kicked two.

ADELAIDE  6.2  10.2  15.9  19.7 (121)
ST KILDA  1.1  5.5  7.7  10.9 (69)

GOALS 
Adelaide: Walker 5, Rankine 2, Pedlar 2, Fogarty 2, Smith, Thilthorpe, Jones, Rachele, Soligo, Keays, Murphy, McHenry
St Kilda: Higgins 3, Caminiti 2, Wood 2, Butler, Byrnes, Membrey

BEST 
Adelaide: Dawson, Smith, Pedlar, Walker
St Kilda: Steele, Marshall, Crouch, Wood

INJURIES 
Adelaide: None
St Kilda: Membrey (head knock), Steele (knee)

SUBSTITUTES 
Adelaide: Ned McHenry (replaced Rory Laird in the fourth quarter)
St Kilda: Jack Bytel (replaced Tim Membrey in the third quarter)

Crowd: TBC at the Adelaide Oval

EXPLORE