Adelaide secured second spot on the AFL ladder and a precious home qualifying final with a 91-point thumping of Gold Coast on Saturday.

The Crows will host Sydney next weekend after trouncing the Suns 22.21 (153) to 9.8 (62) at AAMI Stadium.

Adelaide, returning to the finals for the first time since 2009, ended the minor round by equalling the club record for wins in a season – 17.

And the Swans’ dive to Geelong means the Crows pinch second position behind minor premiers Hawthorn.

Their crunching of the Suns was led by small forwards Ian Callinan and Graham Johncock, who each kicked four goals, while Adelaide’s Brownlow medal fancies Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Thompson engaged in a personal duel for the three votes.

Dangerfield was at his pack-tearing peak, collecting 36 disposals and two goals while Thompson was influential with 30 touches and kicked 2.4.

The Crows squandered early scoring chances but still created a 31-point lead by halftime, 9.13 to 5.6 against the Suns, who finish with three wins – the same amount as on debut last year.

Adelaide effectively shut out Gold Coast with a four-goal burst in seven minutes of the third quarter.

The attacking nous of Johncock and Callinan helped the Crows cover the absence of forward Taylor Walker, who will return from a hip ailment for next week’s final.

Gold Coast finish in 17th position and with their veteran Campbell Brown facing more match review panel scrutiny.

Brown, who carries a lengthy rap sheet, crudely collided with Adelaide’s nine-gamer Aidan Riley in the second term when the Crow was bent over trying to gather a loose ball.