Adelaide has foiled a brave Carlton comeback to prevail by nine points at the MCG on Saturday, but the game looks set to be remembered as the last in the storied career of Chris Judd after the modern great ruptured the ACL in his left knee.

The Crows seemed to have the game in control when they led by 19 points at half-time but the Blues hit back, kicking five of the first seven goals after the main break to hit the front at the three-minute mark of the final term when Levi Casboult converted from 50m.

In a thrilling final term when no more than nine points separated the two teams, the Crows found something to kick four of the final six goals – two of them to Josh Jenkins – to win by 14.15 (99) to 14.6 (90).

But as thrilling as the finish was, the result is destined to become a footnote to the game's main storyline – the likely end of Judd's career.

It happened just 21 minutes after the opening bounce when Judd outmarked Patrick Dangerfield on the Southern Stand wing.

The two-time Brownlow medallist landed awkwardly on his left leg and lay on the ground in visible pain.

He got up and tried to walk off with the aid of trainers but when he couldn't put any weight through his leg he was taken off the ground on a motorised cart.

As supporters from both teams in the disappointing crowd of 33,035 applauded, Judd gave a wave of acknowledgment, seemingly already re-signed to the fact his career was over after 279 games that netted: five club best and fairest awards, six All Australian selections, two AFLPA MVP awards, the 2006 premiership (with West Coast) and the 2005 Norm Smith Medal.

The Blues confirmed the champion's worst fears - a ruptured ACL - immediately after the siren.

The rest of the game looked set to be a sombre affair for Blues fans when a Taylor Walker goal put the Crows up by 21 points at the three-minute mark of the second term.

At that stage the Crows looked set for a comfortable victory, having kicked seven of the previous eight goals after the Blues had jumped them early with the game's opening three goals.

The Crows still led by 19 points at half-time and could have led by more but for a wasteful 2.6 return in the second term.

But with Blues captain Marc Murphy leading from the front and comeback kid Matthew Kreuzer providing a strong presence in attack, the Blues poured on five goals to two in the third term to go into the final break just three points down.

Dangerfield was outstanding for the Crows, finishing the game with an equal team-high 26 possessions, nine clearances and seven tackles

Forward Tom Lynch worked hard up the ground to rack up 22 possessions and kicked two goals, while Jenkins finished the top goalscorer of the day with five majors

Rory Laird (26 possessions) and Scott Thompson (22) were also strong contributors for the Crows, along with ruckman Sam Jacobs.

Murphy was best on ground in the absence of long-time midfield partner Judd and the injured Bryce Gibbs.

Running tirelessly all day, the Blues skipper racked up a match-high 36 possessions and a remarkable 21 handball receives

Patrick Cripps had a team-high eight clearances before suffering a hamstring injury late in the game, while Zach Tuohy did well to keep former teammate and the competition's in-form small forward Eddie Betts to one goal.

Kreuzer had an impact in his first game since round one last season, kicking two third-quarter goals as the Blues charged back into the game.

The first of those goals underlined what the Blues have been missing for the past 18 months that Kreuzer has been sidelined with foot problems.

Charging at a long bomb inside Carlton's forward 50 from Andrejs Everitt, Kreuzer brushed Dangerfield inside and marked in front of Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs.

CARLTON 4.1 6.2 11.3 14.6 (90)
ADELAIDE 6.3 8.9 10.13 14.15 (99)

GOALS
Carlton: Casboult 3, Kreuzer 2, Armfield 2, Menzel, Cripps, Everitt, Tuohy, Henderson, Bell, Graham
Adelaide: Jenkins 5, Lynch 2, Betts, Wright, Cameron, Dangerfield, Jacobs, Walker, van Berlo

BEST
Carlton: Murphy, Cripps, Tuohy, Curnow, Rowe, Simpson
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Jenkins, Lynch, Laird, Thompson, Jacobs

INJURIES
Carlton: Judd (knee), Cripps (hamstring)
Adelaide: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Chris Judd replaced by Jason Tutt in the first quarter
Adelaide: Cam Ellis-Yolmen replaced by Matt Crouch in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Farmer, Brown, Mitchell

Official crowd: 32,035 at the MCG

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