Crows better but it’s North Adelaide in a thriller

GUTSY North Adelaide kicked five final-quarter goals to overrun a wounded Adelaide and win a thriller at Prospect Oval yesterday.

GUTSY North Adelaide kicked five final-quarter goals to overrun a wounded Adelaide and win a thriller at Prospect Oval yesterday.

The Roosters trailed from early in the second term and fell as far as four goals behind in the third quarter but hit the lead when Marlon Motlop goaled 22 minutes into the final term. A frantic five minutes ensued but North was able to lock the ball in its half and win its first game of the season.

The Crows’ cause wasn’t helped by two injuries to AFL-listed players just as they appeared to have the match under control midway through the third term.

Rookie Harry Dear dislocated his shoulder and then veteran James Podsiadly limped from the ground with a suspected lower-back problem.

With senior Crow Scott Thompson dominant around the stoppages and Reilly O’Brien on top in the ruck, Adelaide had the game under control to that point. It went 21 points clear early in time-on in the third term but the game changed complexion after the final quarter as North gained more run.

Daniel Kulikowski did an effective stopping job on Thompson and forward Darren Shillabeer lit up.

“To be beaten for most of the day and then come out in the last quarter and outrun them a little bit I think showed a fair bit of character,’’ North coach Ken McGregor said.

“We got done over pretty badly in the midfield in the third quarter, and for the guys to respond was good.

“We put Killer (Kulikowski) on Thompson and Thommo was still OK but we kept him a littler quieter.”

Adelaide fielded nine top-up players – six more than Port had in its demolition of South on Friday night – and while coach Heath Younie was disappointed to lose, he said his squad had improved.

North beat the Crows by 47 points in the corresponding fixture last year.

“I’m really proud of the effort of the guys,’’ Younie said. “Twelve months ago, we were in this position and we got smashed off the park. Today we were able to compete and I think we are going to be better for it going forward …’’

Adelaide enjoyed most of the early possession and had seven of the first eight scoring shots but was inaccurate.

Only debutant Keenan Ramsey was on target, and North went down the other end and capitalised with three late first-term goals to lead by nine points at the first change.

The Crows took their chances in the second term, taking the lead after goals to Jack Osborne and Harrison Wigg.