Adelaide’s season is already in dangerous territory after a third loss in just four minor-round games

The Crows hopes of returning to finals football in 2019 have taken another early hit with an error-strewn, low-scoring loss to North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

Adelaide is in a world of hurt with dreams of a third premiership more distant than ever.

North Melbourne is expected to be road kill this season but they were more than a match for the Crows in a 12 point win at Marvel Stadium.

Ben Brown booted four but the Kangaroos butchered so many more in a 9.17 (71) to 7.9 (51) scoreline that was kind to the Crows.

Adelaide’s tackle pressure, contested work (137-121) and confidence to take the game on appears shot which is reflected in a 1-3 win-loss record. Adelaide now faces the prospect of missing finals and premiership window without a serious turnaround.

Kangaroos Shaun Higgins (30), Jared Polec and Shaun Atley racked up touches while Todd Goldstein wore down Reilly O’Brien with 13 hit outs to advantage.

The Kangaroos went on a six goal second half rampage that Adelaide couldn’t repel as its defence finally wilted unde the weight of repeat inside 50s and spearhead Brown.

Taylor Walker ended a 36 minute Crows goal drought with nine minutes to go in the final term that reduced the margin to 12 points. However, majors from Cameron Zurhaar and Ben Cunnington — well held by Cam Ellis Yolmen to that stage — had already buried. Adelaide.

Making matters worse for Adelaide, Chayce Jones was concussed when met late in a marking contest with Luke McDonald. Kangaroos defender McDonald could attract the wrath of the match review panel for the late lit. The first year rookie sprayed a set shot for goal on the first term siren and didn’t return.

CASH AND CARRY

Taylor Walker of the Crows and his teammates leave the field after losingto the Kangaroos. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Adelaide’s tackle pressure was a concern but not as much as the static ball, indirect movement that been singled out for criticism by All Australian Nick Dal Santo.

Adelaide repeatedly broke down leaving its defensive 50 with ball carriers having few clear targets, just vacant acres filled with Kangaroos.

Adelaide’s forwards have copped a hammering but Adelaide is breaking down across half back and midfield with slow, stop start ball movement and poor disposal efficiency. By contrast the Kangaroos was moving the ball on all costs. If the Kangaroos had cashed in on daring run it wouldn’t have been pretty on the scoreboard.

David Mackay and Wayne Milera created goals with rare midfield bursts that teammates must emulate.

Mackay’s run set up a Brad Crouch goal while Milera took matters into his own hands roaring through centre wing in the third term. The rest of the time Adelaide was too conservative.

HE’S BACK

Eddie Betts of the Crows celebrates after kicking a goal from the boundary. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Eddie Betts had been criticized for falling from elite small forward status over the past 12 months to mere mortal but it took his magic to keep Adelaide in the game in the first half.

Betts’s manic pressure — last seen with Charlie Cameron as his wing-man — returned in unison with Lachy Murphy who did a mountain of hard work at the bottom of packs.

Rory Sloane and Josh Jenkins had hit the post with first term set shots before Betts’ English Premier League style volley.

Betts booted his second after skipper Taylor Walker found the cult figure with a sublime, line splitting pass.

However it was Betts’ third goal that was the show stopper when Adelaide needed it most 19 minutes into the second term. Having lined up from what would be the Eddie Betts pocket at Adelaide Oval, the veteran inspired Adelaide with a 50 metre perfect shot. This was gold dust for a side struggling for inside 50s ((57-36)

Having exceeded 50 goals a year from 2014-17, Betts declined to 29 last season but doubled his 2019 season tally last night.

BIG BEN

Ben Brown of the Kangaroos kicks at goal in the third quarter. Picture: Michael Klein.

Brown was well held early by Daniel Talia but won fortunate frees against the Adelaide defensive rock in the second and third terms to ignite the host.

The Kangaroos forward intercepts were supreme but not capitalised on until a four goal third term with Jack Ziebell super dangerous supporting Brown at ground well.

SCOREBOARD

NORTH MELBOURNE 1.6 23.10, 7.14, 9.17 (71)

ADELAIDE 2.4 6.6 7.9 8.11 (59)

GOALS

KANGAROOS: Brown (4) Ziebell (2), Higgins, ,Cunnington, Zurhaar

CROWS: Betts (3), B Crouch, Jenkins, Sloane, Milera, Walker

BEST

KANGAROOS: Higgins, Ziebell Brown, Polec, Ahern, Hall, Goldstein,

CROWS: Betts, B Crouch, M Crouch, Ellis-Yolmen, Milera, Keath

INJURIES:

KANGAROOS:Pittard (leg)

CROWS: Jones (concussion)

UMPIRES

S McInerney, L Fisher, D Harris

CROWD

17,207 Marvel Stadium

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER

FIRST QUARTER

North 1.6 (12)

Adelaide 2.4 (16)

The Crows started Cam Ellis-Yolmen — the key replacement for dumped star Bryce Gibbs — in the middle on North danger man Ben Cunnington and he made an early impact, winning key contests and setting up teammates for shots at goal. But Adelaide squandered some set shots, with Rory Sloane missing from 40m and Josh Jenkins inexcusably hitting the post from 25m straight in front. It took some Eddie Betts magic — a mid-air soccer — to register the opening goal. He also kicked the Crows’ only other goal for the term.

Perfect start for Eddie in game No. 299! #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/eSXIh0RK1c

— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) April 13, 2019

SECOND QUARTER

North 3.10 (28)

Adelaide 6.6 (42)

North peppered the goals early in the quarter but kept missing. Tarryn Thomas and Jack Ziebell both hit the post, meaning the Kangaroos had kicked eight consecutive behinds from their last 15 inside 50s midway through the quarter. In contrast, the Crows made the most of their attacking entries. Brad Crouch snapped truly and when Josh Jenkins got on the end of a superb handball from fellow key forward Taylor Walker to goal from the goalsquare, the visitors had skipped to a 14-point lead. That was extended to 21 before Ziebell goaled with 17 seconds to go and Ben Brown missed with a kick after the half-time siren.

This was Brad Crouch's fifth goal of the season. Great to have him back in our side 💪 #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/23nZzu9Myl

— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) April 13, 2019

THIRD QUARTER

North 7.14 (56)

Adelaide 7.9 (51)

Wayne Milera’s superb goal on the run seven minutes into the term pushed the Crows’ lead out to 20 points and they looked to be travelling well. But the Roos continued to dominate the inside 50 count and finally started to get some reward for effort. Key forward Ben Brown was the difference maker, kicking three goals in 10 minutes, while Jack Ziebell booted one as the home side kicked four on the trot to grab a five-point lead at the last change. The inside 50 count was a damning 48-24 in the Roos’ favour.

Injury Update: Chayce Jones will take no further part in tonight's game #weflyasone

— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) April 13, 2019

FOURTH QUARTER

North 9.17 (71)

Adelaide 8.11 (59)

If one play summed up a messy night for Adelaide it was Tom Lynch’s errant pass to leading teammate Josh Jenkins early in the final quarter. With the game up for grabs, Lynch’s inside 50 pass was cut off by Kangaroo Robbie Tarrant and the ball was quickly rebounded down the other end for Ben Cunnington to mark and push North’s lead out to two goals. When Cameron Zurhaar added another a minute later, the lead was three goals and there was no coming back for the Crows. Jenkins’ shocking miss from the edge of the goalsquare was the final nail in the coffin for Don Pyke’s team.

Uh oh...#AFLNorthCrows pic.twitter.com/ehWjDIvEtS

— AFL (@AFL) April 13, 2019

NORTH MELBOURNE V ADELAIDE

Saturday, April 13, 6.55pm, Marvel Stadium

TV: Channel 7, Fox Sports 3

RADIO: TripleM, FIVEaa, ABC

LIVE STREAM: kayosports.com.au

WEATHER: Mostly cloudy, max 19C

KANGAROOS

B: Jamie Macmillan, Robbie Tarrant, Jasper Pittard

HB: Luke McDonald, Scott D. Thompson, Shaun Atley

C: Jared Polec, Shaun Higgins, Trent Dumont

HF: Aaron Hall, Jack Ziebell, Mason Wood

F: Kayne Turner, Ben Brown, Tarryn Thomas

Foll: Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Jed Anderson

I/C: Luke Davies-Uniacke, Jy Simpkin, Paul Ahern, Cameron Zurhaar

Emerg: Nathan Hrovat, Dom Tyson, Ben McKay, Bailey Scott

IN: Mason Wood, Jed Anderson, Paul Ahern, Cameron Zurhaar

OUT: Ben McKay, Bailey Scott, Dom Tyson, Tom Campbell

CROWS

B: Alex Keath, Daniel Talia, Wayne Milera

HB: Brodie Smith, Kyle Hartigan, Rory Laird

C: David Mackay, Matt Crouch, Riley Knight

HF: Tom Lynch, Taylor Walker, Rory Atkins

F: Lachlan Murphy, Josh Jenkins, Eddie Betts

Foll: Reilly O’Brien, Myles Poholke, Rory Sloane

I/C: Brad Crouch, Jake Kelly, Chayce Jones, Cameron Ellis-Yolmen

Emerg: Hugh Greenwood, Bryce Gibbs, Jordan Gallucci, Andy Otten

IN: Myles Poholke, Cameron Ellis-Yolmen

OUT: Bryce Gibbs, Paul Seedsman