While the Blues are now on a three-game losing skid after the 17.12 (114) to 12.14 (86) loss on Thursday night at Adelaide Oval, they were within three goals midway through the last quarter.
As the pressure increases on coach Michael Voss, it was a more competitive effort from his team.
He dismissed post-game talk about captain Patrick Cripps being on the bench at the start of the second term, when Adelaide won the game with five goals in the first eight minutes.
Josh Rachele sparked the Crows with four goals in the first half and midfielder Sam Berry racked up 29 possessions.
"We found patches of ourselves again," Crows coach Matthew Nicks said.
"It was a really positive step for our group. We started slowly again, which is going to be a work-on, but to turn that around ... we got a glimpse.
"Some of our best footy was back tonight."
Cripps form has been under the spotlight and he was better, with 29 disposals and seven clearances.
Voss said no player was expected to play 100 per cent of the game and Cripps being on the bench at the start of the second term was a function of sharing the midfield load.
"I can't believe those sorts of things are still questions. It's our midfield group that gets the job done," Voss said.
"The skipper started great, he had a very good night and there were some players who returned to form.
"We also have to be better than a team that has to have him in there for the entirety."
Carlton kicked four goals from centre clearances in a pulsating first quarter, which featured 13 goals.
Ollie Hollands can expect match review scrutiny after his late challenge in a marking contest felled Taylor Walker, gifting the Crows veteran a 50m penalty and a goal.
The Blues led by 14 points late in the quarter after successive goals from Mitch McGovern, before the Crows took the game away from them to lead by four goals at half-time.
Star Carlton midfielder Sam Walsh had 15 possessions and four inside 50s and comfortably was best afield in the first term.
But by three-quarter time, in a major win for the Crows midfield, he had only managed five more possessions. Walsh still was solid, racking up 28 disposals for the game.
Carlton have been bedevilled by second-half fade-outs this season. This time, they fell away in the second quarter and were outscored six goals to one.
Adelaide started the second term with eight clearances to nil.
Heavy rain arrived during the long break and guaranteed the free scoring that marked the first half would dry up.
Adelaide defender Mitch Hinge limped off at halftime with a hamstring injury and was subbed out of the game.
After Alex Neal-Bullen kicked a superb goal from the boundary, Adelaide led by a game-high 30 points at three-quarter time.
That was extended to 36 early in the last before Carlton hit back to keep the contest interesting, but two late goals confirmed the Crows' win.
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