Australian Football

Match Report

A wide-open premiership race was made even more so when Adelaide defeated North Melbourne by 33 points at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday night. The Crows inflicted a fourth loss in five weeks on North, in the process moving within a game of second place on the ladder. The match was in the balance three quarters, mostly because of inaccuracy that plagued the home side throughout the night. But the Crows drew away in the final term despite not improving from an inaccuracy perspective, kicking 4.10 to 1.1 to turn a six-point three-quarter-time lead into an eventually comfortable win. 

Defences ruled in the match's early phase, and it was almost six minutes before either side managed a score, a behind to Adelaide's Rory Atkins breaking the drought. Great transition from defence to attack saw the Crows get the first goal of the match, a soccer off the ground by Tom Lynch, and that got the home side rolling. Richard Douglas followed up with a second goal and after behinds to Josh Jenkins and Charlie Cameron, Mitch McGovern marked and kicked Adelaide's third to make the score 21-0. Jack Ziebell kicked a lovely roving goal to claw a goal back for North but the Crows dominated the remainder of the term. They could not find the big sticks, though, adding a further five behinds to North's two to lead 3.8 to 1.2 at quarter time.

Despite losing Farren Ray to concussion late in the first quarter, North came out firing early in the second term and made inroads on the scoreboard, a behind from Ben Brown being followed by goals to Sam Gibson and Brown himself to cut the Kangaroos' deficit to just five points. The Crows settled briefly with a major to skipper Tex Walker but North came again and goals to Mason Wood and Lindsay Thomas had scores level after 17 minutes. The two sides traded in behinds for the next eight minutes before a brilliant half-volley pick-up and handball from Wood saw Brent Harvey goal and put North ahead by four points at the long break.

Adelaide started strongly in the third term, goals to Matt Crouch and Eddie Betts turning the half-time deficit into an eight-point lead after just four minutes. Ben Brown hit back for North with a free kick and goal soon after but Walker's second - a beautiful, long goal from outside 50 - had the Crows eight points clear after eight minutes. The Roos would not go away, however, and a brilliant snap from the boundary line by Thomas had them back within a point after 12 minutes. He kicked his third eight minutes later, and North was ahead by four points as the term entered time on. The Crows attacked heavily after that, but inaccuracy continued to plague them Jarryd Lyons, Rory Atkins and Walker all missed before a great goal by Betts from the pocket put Adelaide ahead. Sloane added yet another behind after that, giving Adelaide the lead by an even goal at the last change.

With only a goal separating the sides as the last quarter began, a grandstand finish looked to be on the cards but Adelaide dominated the final term as the match soon fizzled out. After a couple of behinds to the Crows, Jenkins' first major had them out to a 14-point lead. The Kangas contained Adelaide for the next 14 minutes but could not score themselves and when Rory Atkins goaled at the 17-minute mark, Adelaide led by 20. Richard Douglas added another soon after. Adelaide continued to pepper the goals after that, but kept missing, adding another six behinds. Each side managed one goal in that period, and the Crows cruised home by 33 points. 

Rory Sloane continued his great season, laying 13 tackles and gleaning 30 possessions for the victors, while Matt Crouch (32 disposals, seven tackles) was also very good. For North, Todd Goldstein (42 hitouts, six tackles) also continued his fine form.

North has now lost four of its last five matches and is back with the pack in the top eight. It will have the bye in round 15 before taking on Carlton at the MCG on Sunday week. Adelaide will make its own trip to the MCG next Sunday, where a win over Melbourne would see it pushing for a top-four spot.

GOALS
Adelaide: Betts, Walker, M.Crouch, Douglas 2; Lynch, McGovern, Jenkins, Atkins
North Melbourne: Thomas 3; Brown 2; Wood, Harvey, Ziebell, Gibson, Petrie

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Adelaide: M.Crouch, Sloane, Laird, Atkins, Talia, Lever, Lynch
North Melbourne: Cunnington, Ziebell, Brown, Thomas

BEST - THE AGE
Adelaide: Sloane, Talia, Smith, M. Crouch, Jacobs, Atkins
North Melbourne: Goldstein, McKenzie, Swallow, Cunnington, Dal Santo, Ziebell

INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
North Melbourne: Ray (concussion)

UMPIRES: Stevic, Hocking, Kamolins, Meredith

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Hamish McLachlan, Leigh Matthews, Jude Bolton