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Brisbane thumped Adelaide by 52 points in Saturday's AFL game with Crows star Taylor Walker suffering a neck injury.

Adelaide hierarchy hope star forward Taylor Walker has avoided a serious neck injury after being felled in a 52-point AFL loss to Brisbane.

Walker was substituted midway through the second quarter of the Lions' 17.9 (111) to 8.11 (59) win at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

The key forward slid awkwardly into Daniel Rich's hip and was writhing in pain on the ground before being treated by medicos.

"We were quite concerned about what had actually happened, it looked like maybe he had broken his arm or shoulder or something along those lines," Crows coach Matthew Nicks said.

Walker, who has kicked the second-most goals in the competition this season, could barely move his neck post-incident but has been cleared of concussion.

"Now we have just got to work through how his neck comes back," Nicks said.

When Walker went down 14 minutes into the second term, both teams had scored three goals and Brisbane led by just three points.

Thereafter, the Lions booted 13 goals to five to reclaim third spot on the ladder.

Brisbane's Lincoln McCarthy slotted four goals, Charlie Cameron kicked three majors against his former club and Zac Bailey's eye-catching 26 disposals featured three goals, nine clearances and seven inside 50s.

Midfielder Jarryd Lyons, also against his ex-club, marked his 150th AFL game with 31 disposals and 10 tackles.

Winger Mitch Robinson (27 possessions) was busy while Rhys Mathieson had 19 touches when summoned to replace Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale, who was a late withdrawal because of an ankle injury.

Adelaide's Rory Laird, whose game-high 37 disposals included nine clearances, and wingman Paul Seedsman (21 touches, two goals) were standouts for the Crows while Reilly O'Brien (36 hit outs, 16 possessions) won the rucks.

Brisbane dominated territory in the opening half with 34 to 20 inside 50s but led by just eight points at the long break, 5.6 to 4.4.

The Lions then overpowered their hosts with six goals to three in the third term, before adding another five goals to one in the last.

"We took our opportunities in the second half," Lions coach Chris Fagan said.

"In the first half, we just didn't show enough composure with the ball ... but as the game opened up in the second half, I just thought our ball use became so much better."