A spirited and entertaining SANFL Crows performance wasn’t quite good enough to beat the fourth-placed Roosters on Saturday afternoon, losing by 20 points.

The high-scoring affair had 13 lead changes throughout the match, but after a tight-fought first three quarters, the Crows ran out of steam in the final term and the Roosters finished 22.9 (141) to 19.7 (121) winners.

Adelaide benefitted from having three big bodies in the midfield, with Patrick Wilson (42 disposals, 10 marks and 10 clearances), Cam Ellis-Yolmen (41 disposals, 12 clearances and seven inside 50s) and Sam Gibson (34 disposals and nine marks) having a significant impact.

Brodie Smith was a big influence across halfback in his second match back from his knee reconstruction, with 32 disposals, seven marks and six inside 50s.

Elliott Himmelberg played one of his best game for the Club, kicking five goals and marking strongly all day.

He was well supported by fellow young forwards Ben Jarman and Ben Davis, who both kicked three goals.

Matthew Signorello was another AFL-listed player that stood up, with 26 disposals, five tackles and four clearances.

Former Crow Keenan Ramsey kicked three goals for the Roosters against his old side.

State League coach Ryan O'Keefe was disappointed with the result, but not the effort of the team who played some of their best footy for the year.

"It was an entertaining, attacking brand of footy, there were some really positive signs out of that," O'Keefe said.

"The way we were able to play, we dominated the midfield and we were really tested but there were some critical errors on our behalf and a little bit of a lack of our defence.

"The real pleasing thing about today’s game was that all our AFL listed players, they all played really well.

"That’s what you need, you need your AFL-listed guys playing well, in good form, so that if there is an opportunity for them to step up a level, they are ready to go."

Next week, Adelaide has the weekend off as part of the SANFL split round but will return on Sunday, August 12 against the Eagles.

ADELAIDE          4.1         11.2         16.4         19.7       (121)
NORTH               5.1         10.4         15.7         22.9       (141)

GOALS:
Adelaide: Himmelberg 5, Davis 3, Jarman 3, Boyle 3, Connelly 2, Slee, Wilson, Signorello
North: Ryswyk 4, Ramsey 3, Hender 3, Woodcock 3, Harvey 2, Olekalns 2, Barns, Deep, Rozee, Smith, Thring

BEST: Ellis-Yolmen, Wilson, Himmelberg, Smith, Jarman, Signorello, Gibson