ADELAIDE coach Brenton Sanderson is hoping the Crows can become the first club to make the finals from ninth spot amid speculation Essendon will be docked all of its premiership points.

After holding on to defeat North Melbourne by nine points on Sunday, the Crows rose to 12th on the ladder, three wins outside the top eight with three games remaining. Essendon, currently seventh, could be stripped of its premiership points, with the AFL Commission to consider punishing the Bombers for their ongoing supplements scandal.

After the win against the Kangaroos, Sanderson admitted he was hopeful another spot became available in the wake of the saga at the Bombers.

"Of course, I'd be lying if I said I'm not," Sanderson said candidly.

"If this year ninth means eighth, I'm sure that club will take it.

"It's just speculation but we've just got to try and win 11 games."

The Crows dug deep after being headed by North in the last quarter at AAMI Stadium to pull off a hard-fought win.

Sanderson said he was proud of the way his team responded when challenged.

"When the game was on the line [we] showed a bit of character [as] a young group," Sanderson said.

"57 inside 50s to 42 showed that we played the better footy, we were just a bit wasteful.

"We're just learning how to finish games off so it was good step for us today."

First-year player Brad Crouch was again one of Adelaide's best, with 26 touches, six marks and five tackles. The young midfielder said the win would give the team extra confidence in the final three games.

"Yeah it was really big; I know the win against Geelong was like that as well," Crouch said

"A couple of times luck hasn't really gone our way, last week was like that, but to win those close ones is something that we really pride ourselves on.

"If we can continue to improve in that area and win those close ones I think it's going to be big into next year."

Fellow midfielder and crowd favourite Rory Sloane was again best afield with two goals and 28 possessions, while Sanderson also gave special mention to skipper Nathan van Berlo, who kept North veteran Brent Harvey to just 16 possessions. 

Rookie Rory Laird continued his fantastic season down back, with Sanderson saying it was time he was nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star Award.

"I really like that kid, I really hope he gets recognised, he's had a really good season for a young kid, he gets a lot of the footy, he cuts his man out, he's a really vital cog in our defence," Sanderson said.

Adelaide plays the in-form Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium next Sunday.