Key forward Jarrad Waite leads North Melbourne to upset win over Adelaide

THE 15th-placed Kangaroos, the premiership favourites and the Australian cricket coach walked into Blundstone Oval. What happened next no one saw coming.

Ben Brown celebrates a goal for North Melbourne. Picture: AAP Images

THE 15th-placed Kangaroos, the premiership favourites and the Australian cricket coach walked into Blundstone Oval.

The punchline? You’d never have seen it coming.

The last time Darren Lehmann came to Hobart, things didn’t exactly go to plan.

At this rate, he’ll never want to go back.

Some 173 days after Australia’s humiliating Test defeat to South Africa — by an innings and 80 runs — Australia’s cricket coach returned to the scene of the hammering at the hands of the Proteas as an unofficial member of Adelaide coach Don Pyke’s coaches box.

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It was like Groundhog Day, with a 64-0 first quarter from the all-guns-blazing Kangaroos staking an early and solid claim for the four points.

Yes, 64-0. And no, that’s not fake news.

It was the third-highest score against a scoreless opponent at quarter time — the only two better notched in 1925 and 1934 — and only the third time in Adelaide’s history it had been held scoreless in a quarter.

Jarrad Waite celebrates a goal for North Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

Talk about chocolates to boiled lollies, with North Melbourne turning the tables on the previously undefeated Adelaide to record a 59-point win at Bellerive.

No one had managed to do it so far this season but just six days after the Crows wiped Richmond off Adelaide Oval by 76 points, the confident and polished Kangaroos showed the flag hope is beatable, just like Pyke had said this week, in a showing that 16 other clubs should take note of.

Get your hands on the football, control it and beat them one-on-one — the frenzied Kangaroos made it look easy, dominating inside 50s, marks, tackles and the possession count for the entirety of the game.

That turnover game that has become trademark — and the scoreboard punishment that came with it — was gone.

Add Jarrad Waite to the mix and the Roos — who had gone close in games against Geelong, the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle but had failed to deliver — were dangerous.

The key forward hadn’t played since Round 1, when he kicked 1.7 before he injured his shoulder and soon after had surgery.

It was like he’d never left.

Within minutes, he’d found the big sticks — twice — and brought valuable pressure on the Crows and delivered the near-impossible from on the boundary fence late in the third term, finishing with six majors for the day.

Ben Brown in congratulated after kicking a goal. Picture: AAP Images

“It was a really good win by the boys, and we’ll enjoy this one,” Waite declared post-game.

But it might not be sustained, with the forward set to come under match review panel scrutiny for a heavy tackle on star Crow Tom Lynch, who was left to change into his tracksuit and played no part in the second half due to concussion.

Fellow forward Mason Wood looked calm in his third game of the season and was polished as one of the Roos’ dozen goalkickers, while Scott Thompson found space and put a stop to the Crows’ attempts to push into attack.

Gun Crow Rory Sloane — a hot Brownlow favourite who has averaged almost 30 disposals per game this season — was allowed no influence by the Roos, who managed the remarkable, keeping him to just five touches in the first half and a total of 18 for the game.

Goal sneak Crow Eddie Betts kicked his 500th career goal, followed by his 501st within seconds thanks to a free kick — the only real thing to celebrate for the visitors.

Ben Cunnington was impressive for North Melbourne against Adelaide. Picture: Luke Bowden

The Crows tried to prise the door open in the third quarter, getting within 32 points, but kicking long inside 50, ill-discipline and poor decision-making slammed it shut.

Waite’s fellow forward Ben Brown injured his shoulder during the first term but despite concerns his day could be over, he returned with heavy strapping to produce two goals.

Late inclusion Corey Wagner — who came in for Taylor Garner (hamstring tightness) — played little part in the game after injuring his ankle early in the match.

Originally published as Key forward Jarrad Waite leads North Melbourne to upset win over Adelaide