Adelaide plunged to club-record depths with a 23-point AFL loss to St Kilda on Monday night.

The Saints were never headed in a commanding 12.6 (78) to 8.7 (55) triumph at Adelaide Oval.

The Crows have now lost seven games to open a season – their worst start since inception in 1991.

And Adelaide are now on the club’s longest losing streak – nine consecutive defeats, across two seasons.

The Saints got their season ahead of the curve – four wins and three losses – after repelling a late surge.

Dan Butler (three goals) and Max King (two goals) were attacking threats, while midfielders Jack Steele (26 disposals, 13 clearances) and Zak Jones (20 disposals, six clearances) were superb.

And the Saints’ defence was tight all night with youngsters Hunter Clark (14 disposals) and Ben Paton (16 touches) prominent.

Adelaide had few, if any, clear-cut winners – Reilly O’Brien (28 hitouts), acting captain Tom Dodee (10 marks) and Ben Keays (24 touches) battled gamely while Taylor Walker booted three goals and Shane McAdam kicked two.

St Kilda’s Jones produced a powerhouse opening term to propel the visitors to a 3.2 to 1.2 quarter-time lead.

Jones’ 10 first-term disposals featured five clearances – three from centre bounces – and three inside 50s, the last a lace-out pass to emerging spearhead King, who converted after the siren.

Adelaide’s sole goal came from a dubious shepherding free kick to ex-skipper Walker.

He kicked another 15 seconds into the second term and when teammate Rory Laird, in his 150th AFL games, converted a set shot the Crows were just six points down.

But St Kilda then accelerated with three unanswered majors to create a 26-point break.

St Kilda led by 16 points at the last change and appeared safe when 22 up after Dean Kent goaled within a minute of the final term.

The Crows then rallied with majors to McAdam and Walker reducing their deficit to nine points with 10 minutes remaining and lifting the 18,173-strong crowd.

But the Saints responded with substance and in style, scoring three goals in a five-minute span to settle the result.

St Kilda return to Adelaide Oval next Saturday night to play ladder-leaders Port Adelaide but are likely to be without Josh Battle, who was ruled out by concussion in the second quarter.