Wins at the MCG are like gold for interstate sides.

Given the state of the AFL ladder, Adelaide were laughing all the way to the bank after their 22-point defeat of Melbourne.

The Crows peeled away from the Demons late in Sunday afternoon’s match to ensure they keep pace with the finals field.

Adelaide are one of six teams to finish round 15 on a 10-4 record, below Geelong, GWS and Sydney on percentage and above Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne.

The tightness of the competition means no side can be sure of where they’ll have to play their finals matches.

But given the biggest match of all is played on the MCG, it’s understandable why Crows winger David Mackay would delight in the result.

“We only have a couple of games here a year and for that reason it’s always tough to come over and win,” he said.

“You understand this is where the big games are played so it’s really important to try and play well here.”

Adelaide won a stirring elimination final against Western Bulldogs at the MCG last year before losing at the same ground in a semi-final with premiers Hawthorn the week after.

The Crows return to the home of football next Sunday to take on Carlton, giving Don Pyke’s side a chance to claim eight points at the MCG in eight days.

While understandbly pleased to pick up four points on the road, Pyke said the manner of Sunday’s win left enough to keep them busy before returning to Melbourne.

“We’ll keep working on everything,” he said.

“Some of our clearance work was good, some of it wasn’t on the level.

“Our team defence is still a continuing work in progress. At times we didn’t use the ball that well.

“We keep working away. We’re not sitting here going ‘we’re satisfied’.

“We’re looking to keep improving and we know we need to keep improving to play strong footy against all opposition.”