The SANFL Crows will be ruing a poor start and inaccuracy in front of goal as they went down to North Adelaide by 26 points on Saturday afternoon.
North kicked three goals to zero in the first quarter, leading the game from start to finish to run out 12.13 (85) to 7.17 (59) winners at Prospect Oval.
Adelaide kicked three consecutive goals in both the second and third quarters to pull the margin back to within a goal, but each time North answered and the momentum was lost.
The game finished like it started with North kicking three unanswered goals in the final term.
Patrick Wilson once again had plenty of the footy with 32 disposals, 11 marks, five clearances and a goal.
Skipper Matthew Wright led from the front with 15 touches, eight marks, four inside 50s and a goal.
Ruckman Sam Jacobs had the better of the ruck duel with 28 hitouts, 21 disposals, seven marks and seven clearances.
Defenders Andy Otten (17 disposals and four spoils), Lachie Sholl (23 disposals at 92 per cent kicking efficiency) and Jordon Butts (19 disposals and seven rebound 50s) worked hard.
State League coach Heath Younie said he was disappointed with the outcome but said North played a brilliant game.
“We had chances and fundamentally made errors and from that they were able to win the uncontested possession and each time they went forward they scored it seemed,” Younie said.
“We had plenty of looks at it, but I’m disappointed we didn’t take our chances.
“But North were able to do that and they handled the conditions better than us and they fully deserved the win.”
The Crows suffered a number of injuries throughout the match.
Towards the end of the game, Andrew McPherson lunged aggressively to spoil a ball and felt some upper right hamstring pain while Paul Hunter suffered a mid-foot sprain in a contest in the last quarter.
Development squad member Hamish Latchford also hurt his hamstring in the second quarter.
The players will be assessed in coming days.
ADELAIDE 0.4 4.10 7.14 7.17 (59)
NORTH 3.7 6.7 9.12 12.13 (85)
GOALS:
Adelaide: Fogarty, Gibbs, Himmelberg, Jones, Strachan, Wilson, Wright
North: Hender 4, Minervini 3, Harvey 2, Barns, Laurie, Neagle
BEST: Wilson, Wright, Otten, Jacobs
