Australian Football

Match Report

A sensational first quarter saw North Melbourne burst the Adelaide Crows' bubble in spectacular fashion at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Saturday. The Kangaroos had first use of the breeze and used it to perfection to blow the previously undefeated Crows away. By the time the quarter-time had sounded, North had kicked an amazing 10.4 and Adelaide was scoreless, and the game was as good as over. The Crows recovered to get within 32 points of the Roos at one stage, but the result was never really in doubt, North eventually finishing 59 points clear. 

The Kangaroos were on song from the very beginning and Ben Cunnington set the scene for the first-term avalanche with a goal from the boundary line at the three-minute mark. Jarrad Waite, returning from a five-week injury lay-off, kicked another beautiful goal from the boundary line and then followed up with his second as North jumped to a three-goal lead after six minutes. The run continued as the Kangas kicked another four goals - including a third to Waite - before time on, and they added three more in 'red time' to make it 10 for the quarter. At the first change, the score was an incredible 64-0.

Adelaide needed to start the second quarter well if it was to have any chance and it did so, with majors to Charlie Cameron, Eddie Betts (his 500th AFL goal), Betts again and Jake Lever cutting the margin to 39 points. But North then managed to do what the Crows hadn't, kick a goal into the breeze, and a major to Shaun Higgins had the Roos back out in front by 45. That seemed to halt Adelaide's momentum, and each team added only one further goal for the quarter as North took a 42-point lead into half time.

North regained the use of the breeze in the third quarter but it was the Crows who made the running early in the term. Goals to Josh Jenkins and Cameron had Adelaide within 32 points after 12 minutes, but the Kangaroos settled after that, and majors to Ben Brown and Luke McDonald saw them 47 points clear six minutes later. The Crows came again via goals to Betts and Richard Douglas, but North responded again and closed out the term with majors to Mason Wood and Waite twice, and they turned for home 53 points clear.

Any thought of a miraculous final-quarter comeback from the Crows with the breeze was quickly dispelled when Ben Brown kicked a goal at the two-minute mark to put the Kangaroos 59 points clear. Despite having the use of wind Adelaide could only halve the remainder of the match, each side adding a further four goals as the Roos cantered to a big win.

Waite was outstanding in his return for North, with six goals and eight marks, while for Adelaide, Matt Crouch (38 possessions, five marks) was a great contributor.

With two consecutive wins under their belt, the Kangas will go into their home match against Sydney at Docklands next Sunday full of confidence. The Crows - still on top of the ladder - will return home and look to bounce back with a win over Melbourne at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

GOALS
North Melbourne: Waite 6; Higgins, Dumont, Wood, Brown, Cunnington 2; Ziebell, Clarke, Turner, McDonald, Hrovat, Atley
Adelaide: Betts 3; Cameron, Jenkins, Douglas 2; Lever, Walker, Jacobs, Atkins

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North Melbourne: Waite, Cunnington, Wood, Tarrant, Thompson, Goldstein
Adelaide: M Crouch, Douglas, Laird, Jacobs

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Wagner (ankle)
Adelaide: Lynch (concussion)

UMPIRES: Chamberlain, Fleer, Mollison 

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Brenton Speed, Jason Dunstall, Brad Johnson, Cameron Mooney