WEST Coast champion Josh Kennedy delivered a remarkable farewell performance to savour, but his memorable bag of eight goals was not enough to drag his team to victory against Adelaide on Sunday.

In an afternoon of high drama at a packed Optus Stadium, the Eagles produced a desperate, fighting effort to send their spiritual leader out in style, but the Crows held their nerve late to spoil the party and win by 16 points.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 07: Josh J. Kennedy of the Eagles celebrates after scoring goal number eight during the 2022 AFL Round 21 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium on August 7, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos)

There were goals in every quarter from Kennedy in a brilliant display of long-range goalkicking, and even a return of the famous stutter step as he threatened to single-handedly win the game for his team.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 07: Jack Darling of the Eagles celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2022 AFL Round 21 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium on August 7, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos)

EAGLES v CROWS Full match coverage and stats

But he stumbled late, missing a closer-range effort before the Crows kicked the final two goals of the match to win 16.6 (102) to 13.8 (86) in midfield star Rory Laird's 200th game.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 07: Liam Duggan of the Eagles celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2022 AFL Round 21 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium on August 7, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos)

The premiership forward, who finished his career with 723 goals, was chaired from Optus Stadium through a guard of honour by senior teammates Shannon Hurn and Luke Shuey in emotional scenes in front of a season-high crowd of 50,117 fans.

For Adelaide, key forward Darcy Fogarty was the hero, kicking three of his four goals in the final quarter to ensure the late-season win.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 07: Jack Redden of the Eagles handballs against Harry Schoenberg of the Crows during the round 21 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium on August 07, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

Sidekick Elliott Himmelberg had a quieter day but stood up with two key involvements late, converting a crucial late goal and then tackling Jack Redden as the midfielder was about to pump the ball inside 50 for the Eagles. 

It was the Crows' first win at Optus Stadium in four attempts, winning back-to-back games to gain valuable confidence after last week's 29-point win against Carlton.

01:00

JK's magnificent start to his last

Josh Kennedy kicks two in a minute to get the crowd going in his last game for the Eagles

Laird was terrific in his milestone game, finishing with 36 disposals, 10 clearances and two goals to be the best midfielder on the ground and a crucial contributor in the second half.

After an emotional build-up to the first bounce, Adelaide sucked the air out of Optus Stadium within 40 seconds, surging forward for milestone man Laird to snap the opening goal of the match.

Frustration for the Eagles then turned to panic within five minutes as the Crows added two more and raced to an 18-point lead, showing all the signs they were out to spoil the Optus Stadium celebrations.

00:32

Kennedy kicks his fourth

A momentum shifting goal from JK as he slots through his fourth of the game

But as he has done on big occasions before, Kennedy stepped up to settle his team, marking close to the boundary and slotting his set shot from just inside 50m before turning to celebrate with the crowd.

An arm-wrestle ensued, and Kennedy kept presenting, slotting back-to-back goals late in the quarter from 50m to single-handedly get his team back in the contest.

The Eagles' pressure continued in the second quarter and they had the better of general play before capitalising with a run of three goals to Jamie Cripps, Jack Darling and then Kennedy's fourth, from a 40m set shot.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 07: Josh J. Kennedy of the Eagles acknowledges the supporters after playing his final game during the round 21 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium on August 07, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

With Taylor Walker being shut out of the contest by Tom Barrass at the other end of the ground, Darcy Fogarty stepped up to land an impressive goal from long range.

The margin was only two points at the main break, but West Coast could point to several indicators, including inside 50s (31-18), clearances (26-21), disposals (196-132) and tackles (45-34) to show they had control of the contest.

That's when Adelaide really lifted, starting the second half by kicking back-to-back goals and building a 10-point lead on the back of some excellent stoppage work from Laird. 

Their pressure lifted and ball-movement became more focused, playing the game in the front half and finally creating an opportunity for Walker, who got clear of Barrass to covert.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 07: Josh J. Kennedy of the Eagles is chaired off after playing his last game after retiring during the 2022 AFL Round 21 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium on August 7, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos)

When Jamaine Jones gave away a 50m penalty for lingering in the protected zone, Elliot Himmelberg was sent within range and kicked the Crows' fourth straight goal, giving them a 23-point lead.

Again it was Kennedy who settled the Eagles, running backwards to mark and kicking his fifth, before marking close to the 50m and squeezing home his sixth.

The drama of the final quarter made for a gripping finish to Kennedy's career, with the teams trading blows but Adelaide always keeping at least one goal clear of their opponents.

Fogarty and Himmelberg were the villains for the packed crowd, which rode every bump late before Fogarty iced the game in the final minutes. 

WEST COAST        3.3    7.4    9.5   13.8 (86)
ADELAIDE             4.0   7.2   12.4   16.6 (102)  

GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 8, Cripps 2, Darling 2, Duggan  
Adelaide: Fogarty 4, McAdam 3, Laird 2, McHenry 2, Himmelberg 2, Hinge, Murphy, Walker 

BEST
West Coast: Kennedy, Barrass, Naitanui, Kelly, Shuey, Hurn
Adelaide: Laird, Fogarty, Dawson, McAdam, Hinge, Berry

INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Adelaide: Hamill (head knock)

SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Rhett Bazzo (unused) 
Adelaide: Ben Davis (replaced Will Hamill in the second quarter)

Crowd: 50,117 at Optus Stadium