Carlton superstar Chris Judd's career is probably over after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the Blues' gallant nine-point loss to Adelaide at the MCG.
Judd was stretchered from the field with the injury in the first quarter, but the brave Blues pushed the Crows all the way before they posted the 14.15 (99) to 14.6 (90) win.
Caretaker coach John Barker paid tribute to Judd's contribution to the club, but wants to let some time pass before declaring the 31-year-old dual Brownlow medallist has played his last game.
In a see-sawing final term on Saturday, Carlton took the lead through Levi Casboult and looked set to run away with the contest, but Josh Jenkins, who kicked five goals on the day, was vital as the visitors got out of jail against the last-placed Blues.
"We really struggled today, our skills were embarrassing at times, which is a bit of a sign of tiredness," Adelaide coach Phil Walsh said.
"But I was still happy they found a way to win when they could have said this is a bit too hard and Carlton had great momentum in that last quarter."
Patrick Dangerfield was important with 26 touches and Sam Jacobs finished with 39 hitouts to be among their side's key contributors.
Marc Murphy, who has worn so much criticism for his club's poor season, was outstanding with 36 possessions, while Casboult finished with three majors.
The spirit and endeavour that has been so sadly lacking in Carlton's play for most of the season was back with a vengeance from the outset as the fired-up Blues kicked the first three goals of the match.
An eerie silence descended on the MCG as Judd departed the ground on the motorised cart and the Crows got their act together after the restart with a six-goals-to-one burst that propelled them to a 14-point quarter-time lead.
Adelaide failed to capitalise on their momentum, however, with the wastefulness that has dogged them of late returning to haunt them.
Walsh's side kicked 4.10 across the second and third quarters and the resurgent Blues kept coming.
In his first game of the season, luckless ruckman Matthew Kreuzer kicked two goals in the third term as Carlton slashed a 19-point halftime deficit to just four at three-quarter time.
With their finals credentials in question, the Crows were challenged hard in a pulsating final term, but two goals to Jenkins were pivotal as Adelaide hung on.
Barker relayed Judd's prognosis to the group soon after the final siren.
"They're pretty flat - as you would be," Barker said.
"Chris Judd walks into this place and sets an amazing standard in terms of professionalism."
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