Adelaide has survived a massive scare from North Melbourne and ended the Kangaroos' faint finals chances with a nine-point victory at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

The Crows were in cruise control before the Kangaroos kicked four goals in a five-minute burst in the last quarter to set up a thrilling finish.

But Eddie Betts took a Mark of the Year contender and kicked a goal after the siren as the Crows hung on – 12.14 (86) to 11.11 (77) – in front of a crowd of 41,444.

The Crows (11-11) remain 12th on the ladder and the Kangaroos stay in 10th – four points and percentage behind eight-placed Geelong, who are expected to easily account for Gold Coast next week and punch their ticket to the finals.

Crows ball magnet Matt Crouch had an AFL record 35 handballs among 46 disposals, All Australian defender Rory Laird had 41 and the recalled Andy Otten did a superb defensive job keeping Coleman Medal contender Ben Brown goalless.

Trent Dumont and Shaun Higgins were the leading ball-winners for the Kangaroos with 33 and 29 disposals respectively, while forward Jarrad Waite kicked three goals.

Crows defender Tom Doedee was influential in the first three quarters, but finished the game on the bench with a suspected fractured collarbone, while Kangaroos youngster Will Walker suffered a suspected left knee injury.

Crows coach Don Pyke was relived as his side hung on.

"We ground to a halt there at the end, didn't we," Pyke said.

"For three quarters, we probably controlled the game and in the last quarter, North threw a bit of caution to the wind and took the game on a bit more.

"The loss of Doedee in that third quarter meant we were a tall defender down and they started clunking the ball, but we found a way (to win), which was pleasing."

Kangaroos coach Brad Scott lauded his side's ability to get back into the contest and push the Crows all the way.

"Finals didn't enter my mind, it was a matter of just competing and just keep fighting," Scott said.

"We look at the positives of the game for us, and they're a lot.

"Number one is the character and the substance of our team, and that's something we can build on."

The signs were encouraging enough early for the Kangaroos that they could win their first game in Adelaide since 2011.

But after kicking three goals in the opening 13 minutes, they didn't kick another for the rest of the first half.

The Crows booted six unanswered goals to take a commanding 28-point lead at the main break.

It looked a fait accompli when they went up by 37 points late in the third quarter, and 27 points after Josh Jenkins kicked a huge bomb from outside 50m, and his third of the night, at the 16-minute mark of the last term, but the Kangaroos had other ideas.

Jack Ziebell and Shaun Atley responded quickly, Waite threaded the needle from the boundary, and then kicked another to bring the deficit back to just three points with 4:47 left on the clock.

The Crows were able to do just enough to record their 11th win of the season ahead of their round 23 encounter with Carlton in Melbourne next Saturday.

The Kangaroos round out their season against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium next Sunday.

MEDICAL ROOM
Adelaide: Tom Doedee's impressive season is over after the NAB AFL Rising Star contender suffered a suspected fractured collarbone in a collision with North Melbourne midfielder Jed Anderson late in the third quarter. Half-back flanker Brodie Smith was a late scratching before the game with a corked calf.

North Melbourne: Fourth-gamer Will Walker was in everything early before injuring his ankle, and then injuring his left knee in a marking contest. Walker didn't play any further part in the game.

NEXT UP
The Crows finish their season against Carlton at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night, while the Kangaroos take on St Kilda in the Sunday twilight fixture at Etihad Stadium.

ADELAIDE                         3.4  7.9   10.13   12.14 (86)                  
NORTH MELBOURNE          3.2  3.5    6.7   11.11   (77)  

GOALS
Adelaide: Jenkins 3, Greenwood 2, McGovern 2, Gibbs, Knight, Gallucci, Lynch, Betts
North Melbourne: Waite 3, Goldstein 2, Atley 2, Walker, Simpkin, Wood, Ziebell 

BEST 
Adelaide: Crouch, Laird, Gibbs, Atkins, Jenkins, Otten
North Melbourne: Dumont, Goldstein, Higgins, Williams, Atley, Waite                                                                          

INJURIES 
Adelaide: Brodie Smith (corked calf) replaced in selected side by Jake Kelly, Doedee (suspected broken collarbone)
North Melbourne: Walker (ankle)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, O'Gorman, Findlay

Official crowd: 41,444 at the Adelaide Oval