Adelaide has got the better of Essendon under the Marvel Stadium roof to snatch a two-point win on Friday night, with Josh Rachele's last minute-goal proving the difference.

The Crows led by 36 points late in the second quarter, before the Bombers exploded in the second half. But with persistence despite tired legs, the visitors saw that Essendon never really shut the door on the scoreboard.

It was a game headlined by devastating momentum swings, each side owning quarters with long consecutive goal runs and impressive run and carry. Adelaide landed the first blow with eight unanswered goals through the second quarter, before Essendon hit back with seven-straight of its own.

It was high-end draftees doing it in attack for the Bombers as Nate Caddy, Nik Cox, and Harrison Jones combined for seven goals to draw the crowd to its feet.

07:14

Rd 19 | Match highlights

Watch all the highlights from Essendon's round 19 match against the Crows.

After a nervous first quarter in which it conceded the first three goals and looked bereft at stoppage, the visiting side burst out of the blocks to kick nine goals in the second term.

Speed and power were on the menu as bodies were repeatedly thrown on the line, with Adelaide coming off second best. Defender Nick Murray was subbed out of the game with what is expected to be a serious knee injury in the first quarter, while a host of other players came to the bench for running repairs.

After a nervous first quarter in which it conceded the first three goals and looked bereft at stoppage, the visiting side burst out of the blocks to kick nine goals in the second term.

09:15

Rd 19 | Scott post-game

Watch Essendon’s press conference after round 19’s match against Adelaide

Where the Crows' attempts to cut back into the corridor when it was on the attack were easily picked off by Essendon early, they used the lane to great effect once they began running in waves and using neat handballs to attack with speed.

But as soon as they went back into their shells and became reactive, the Bombers' spread from the contest was overwhelming. The home side's ability to make a quick decision to run into attack – and commit to it – allowed it to cut Adelaide's defence wide open.

Essendon's fast, attacking run out of the reset left a weakened Crows defence vulnerable, with Sam Durham (27 disposals. 618m gained) the architect of that style.

Caddy loves to fly

Only having turned 19 in the week leading up to the game, young key forward Nate Caddy got the Bombers fans mighty excited with his high-flying confidence.

Midway through the opening term, the No.10 draft pick soared over Crow Luke Nankervis on the wing to take a textbook screamer whose photo is poster worthy.

For the remainder of the game, the Bomber continued to fly at the high ball, and backed it up with two goals for the night, offering an exciting glimpse into what Essendon's forward line could look like for years to come.

ESSENDON      3.2    7.5      15.8     17.11 (113)
ADELAIDE       2.3    11.4    13.10    17.12 (115)

GOALS
Essendon: Cox 3, Jones 2, Caddy 2, Langford 2, Gresham 2, Durham, Stringer, Draper, Caldwell, Merrett, Redman
Adelaide: Keays 5, Fogarty 4, Rachele 3, Thilthorpe 2, Dowling, Taylor, Berry

BEST 
Essendon: Redman, Merrett, Durham, Langford, McKay, Cox
Adelaide: Keays, Laird, Fogarty, Hinge, Soligo

INJURIES 
Essendon: Caldwell (head knock)
Adelaide: Murray (left knee), Butts (left foot), Dawson (head knock)

SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Archie Perkins (replaced Jye Caldwell in the fourth quarter)
Adelaide: Brayden Cook (replaced Nick Murray at quarter-time)

Crowd: 36,020 at Marvel Stadium