Adelaide forward Taylor Walker kicked five goals as the Crows defeated Gold Coast by 32 points on Sunday.
The Crows prevailed 16.13 (109) to 11.11 (77) at Adelaide Oval to inflict the SUNS' third defeat of the season and deny them second spot on the ladder.
The SUNS were brilliantly served by onballers David Swallow (37 touches, two goals) and Dion Prestia (29 disposals) while Charlie Dixon and Gary Ablett kicked two goals each.
Ablett gathered 25 possessions but lacked his customary impact in a fixture that followed an identical theme for the initial three quarters - the Crows skipped clear early, only for the SUNS to reel them in.
In the opening term, Adelaide kicked four of the first five goals but the SUNS then scored four of the next five as Adelaide took a 5.2 to 5.1 quarter-time lead before a 49,069-strong crowd.
The home side then booted the initial three goals of the second stanza to move to a 19-point break before another Gold Coast fightback.
The SUNS snuck within seven points at half-time before Adelaide's Walker produced a third-term cameo, kicking the initial two goals of the quarter.
And when his teammate Jenkins booted a 65m goal on the run, the Crows were 20 points clear.
The plucky SUNS again struck back with two goals in the last 40 seconds and were just nine points adrift at three-quarter time.
But Walker, in his third game back after a year sidelined by a knee reconstruction, again popped up for the Crows, booting the opening goal of the last term to give his side breathing space.
Further majors came through David McKay and Betts before Walker added a fifth as the SUNS were kept goalless in the last term.
Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna was pleased by the way the SUNS remained in the hunt until the final term, but lamented their slow start.
"Because of the nature of the beast we just didn't have any petrol left in the last quarter," he said.
"To get challenged hard early and for us to weather that and to see a way through that, that was probably the most pleasing thing up until three-quarter time."
ADELAIDE 5.2 9.7 12.9 16.13 (109)
GOLD COAST 5.1 8.3 11.6 11.11 (77)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 5, Jenkins, Betts 2,Smith, Jaensch, Laird, Lyons, Podsiadly, Douglas, Mackay
Gold Coast: Prestia, Ablett, Dixon, Swallow 2, Kolodjashnij, Matera, Hall
BEST
Adelaide: Walker, Sloane, Talia, Thompson, Jaensch, Smith
Gold Coast: Swallow, Ablett, Prestia, Dixon, Rischitelli, Hardbrow
INJURIES
Adelaide: Jacobs (groin)
Gold Coast: McKenzie (shoulder)
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Sam Jacobs replaced by Matthew Wright at three-quarter time
Gold Coast: Trent McKenzie replaced by Sean Lemmens at three-quarter time
Reports:
Adelaide: Nil
Gold Coast: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Burgess, Mollison
Official crowd: 49,069 at Adelaide Oval
