A career-best six-goal haul to young forward Harry Dear has helped Adelaide to an inspired 15-point comeback victory over North Adelaide at Prospect Oval.

Dear slotted three goals in the third term alone as Adelaide turned a 21-point deficit into a nine-point advantage by the final change in an enthralling contest on Saturday afternoon.

The lead swapped hands five times as the two teams wrestled momentum back and forth throughout a competitive opening half, before the Roosters kicked clear with back-to-back goals to open the third term.

But the SANFL Crows proceeded to slot seven of the last eight goals of the match to storm to their seventh win of the season.

Dear hunts consistency

Tea Tree Gully livewire Dylan Schoenmakers sealed the victory with a classy finish at the 17-minute mark of the final quarter to close out the 11.12 (78) to 9.9 (63) triumph.

The result puts Adelaide three games clear inside the top five and moves the SANFL Crows another step closer towards a maiden finals berth.

It was yet another chapter in the growing rivalry between the two clubs. Three of previous four games between the Crows and Roosters had been decided by four points or less. It was also Adelaide’s third-straight victory against North Adelaide.

Exciting youngster Wayne Milera Junior was instrumental in setting up what was his first win in the SANFL as a Crow. The speedster rarely missed a target all afternoon, finishing with 24 possessions and a game-high eight inside 50ms.

Andy Otten and Tom Doedee stood tall down back and were once again among Adelaide’s best. Otten amassed 24 possessions while Doedee collected 19 to give the Crows tremendous drive off half-back. The pair also combined for nine intercept marks.

Young onballer Dean Gore won a team-high 12 contested possessions and seven clearances in a workmanlike display, while Cam Ellis-Yolmen continued his prolific SANFL form with another 27 possessions, seven marks and five clearances.

SANFL Stats: Round 14 v North Adelaide

A hamstring injury to Luke Lowden was the only sour note to the result. The 206cm, 103kg forward/ruckman pulled up lame during the second term and did not return to the field after half-time.

Lowden’s injury forced Crows coaching staff to shift swingman Keenan Ramsey forward. It proved a winning move, as the rookie slotted two beautiful set shot goals either side of three-quarter time when the game was in the balance.

Development player Scott Spriggs starred with 26 possessions and eight marks in his best SANFL performance. Adelaide fielded six development squad members against the Roosters and all contributed to the win, with Schoenmakers, Trent Heffernan, Wade Hancock and debutant Mitchell Minns earning praise from coach Heath Younie post-match.

Matthew Leigh was also singled out by his coach and fellow teammates following an incredibly courageous effort in the final term where he stood in the path of a charging Mitch Harvey at centre half-back. The brave act typified Adelaide's team-first performance - a stark contrast to its disappointing defeat at the hands of Central District last weekend.

“We challenged the players during the week about last week’s performance,” Crows SANFL coach Heath Younie said after Saturday’s win.

“I thought our work rate and our effort wasn’t at the level last week. Today… I thought that was back. That’s the most pleasing thing.

“Matty Leigh made an unbelievable contest late in the game, where he didn’t have to go, but he goes.

“It’s hard to individualise because they all played well. Everyone played a significant role when they needed to.”

Adelaide now sits in fourth position on the SANFL ladder after 14 rounds following Central District’s loss to Port Adelaide at Elizabeth.

The Crows host Sturt at Thebarton Oval in the Club’s second home SANFL game of the season next Saturday afternoon.


ADELAIDE                    3.4   4.7   9.10   11.12 (78)
NORTH ADELAIDE     3.3   6.4   8.7   9.9 (63)

GOALS
Adelaide: Dear 6, Ramsey 2, Heffernan, Greenwood, Schoenmakers
North Adelaide: Ryswyk 3, Harvey 2, G. Thring, Liston, Hender, M. Thring

BEST
Adelaide: Dear, Milera, Spriggs, Gore, Doedee, Otten, O’Brien
North Adelaide: Schwarz, Ryswyk, McDonough, Spina, Clisby

INJURIES
Adelaide: Lowden (hamstring)
North Adelaide: Nil