Fremantle has gone down to Adelaide by 17 points in a low-scoring game at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Freo trailed by 19 points at three-quarter time before goals to Matt Taberner and Michael Walters gave them a sniff.

But majors to Alex Keath – courtesy of a 50m penalty against Darcy Tucker – and Eddie Betts ensured the Crows improved to 4-3 for the season, getting home 7.9 (51) to 5.4 (34).

Fremantle were led brilliantly by Nat Fyfe with 32 disposals, including 19 contested, and he received great midfield support from David Mundy (35 disposals and 20 contested), Ed Langdon and Michael Walters.

Key defender Alex Pearce kept Taylor Walker to one goal, while also having 10 contested possessions among his 16 disposals.

Hugh Greenwood brought the house down with a running 52m goal at the eight-minute mark of the third quarter – breaking a 38-minute drought since Tucker's goal at the 25th minute of the game.

Matt Taberner responded for the Dockers before Elliott Himmelberg got one back immediately.

Scores were level at 20 points apiece midway through the third term before late goals to Elliott Himmelberg, Lachlan Murphy and Brodie Smith gave the Crows some breathing space at the final change.

Darcy Tucker and Michael Walters gave Freo some hope in the last term as they closed to within a goal but the Crows managed to hold firm.

Adelaide's fourth victory for the season pushes it back inside the top eight and level on points with the Fremantle.

ADELAIDE  1.3       1.6       5.9     7.9 (51)
FREMANTLE         2.2       2.2       3.2       5.4 (34) 

GOALS
Adelaide: Walker, Greenwood, Himmelberg, Murphy, Smith, Keath, Betts
Fremantle: Tucker 2, Hill, Taberner, Walters

BEST 
Adelaide: M Crouch, B Crouch, Sloane, Lynch, Ellis-Yolmen, Laird
Fremantle: Fyfe, Mundy, Pearce, Ryan, Langdon, Cerra

INJURIES 
Adelaide: Nil
Fremantle: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, Findlay, Wallace

Official crowd: 42,383 at Adelaide Oval