ADELAIDE has moved inside the AFLW top eight with a gutsy 14-point win against the North Melbourne at Unley Oval on Saturday.

The reigning premiers conceded the first two goals of the game but rallied to kick the next four in a tough and engrossing contest, running out winners 4.6 (30) to 2.4 (16).

The Crows (2-1) have won back-to-back games after last week's win over Richmond, while the Kangaroos (1-2) have now dropped two in a row.

04:27

AFLW S7 Highlights: Adelaide v North Melbourne

The Crows and Kangaroos clash in round three of the 2022 NAB AFL Women's Competition

Gun Crows midfielder Ebony Marinoff was the dominant player on the ground with a game-high 29 disposals, including 15 contested possessions, 13 tackles and seven inside 50s.

CROWS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

Partner in crime Anne Hatchard was also outstanding with 23 touches, captain Chelsea Randall did a wonderful tagging job on Kangaroos star Jasmine Garner in the second quarter, while electric forward Danielle Ponter kicked two of her side's four goals.

00:30

Ponter's precise banana gets crowd buzzing

Danielle Ponter slots a brilliant checkside from the boundary

Garner led the 'Roos with 24 disposals, but was held to just seven in the second half. Ash Riddell (23 disposals) and Emma Kearney (18) were also influential for North.

Scores were level at three-quarter time before goals to Ponter and ruck Caitlin Gould were the difference for the Crows.

The Kangaroos burst out of the blocks with first-quarter goals to Alice O'Loughlin and Vikki Wall before the Crows responded through Hannah Munyard and Ponter.

00:38

Wall snaps through maiden major

Vikki Wall kicks her first AFLW goal

From there, the match became a scrap, with neither side willing to give an inch.

Kangaroos utility Amy Smith suffered a concussion after an accidental boot to the head from Marinoff in the second quarter, the incident summing up the tough nature of the contest.

00:30

Smith withdrawn after nasty boot to the head

Amy Smith is forced to leave the field following an accidental Ebony Marinoff kick

Did you see that?
Danielle Ponter is one of the most electrifying forwards in the competition. The Crows livewire showed all of her class and flair with a brilliant check-side goal deep in the right forward pocket in the second quarter. She saved her best for last with a piece of individual magic at the 10-minute mark of the last term, snapping truly from 35m to extend the Crows' lead.

00:29

Clutch Ponter breaks through with classy ripper

Danielle Ponter gathers, baulks and turns inside to nail brilliant major

The crucial coaching move
Kangaroos star Jasmine Garner dominated the first half with 17 disposals, forcing Crows coach Matthew Clarke to deploy inspirational captain Chelsea Randall to a tagging role after the main break. Randall went step-to-step with Garner, giving her no room and nullifying her impact. Garner had just seven touches in the second half.

Up next
The Crows have an eight-day break ahead of their clash with Collingwood at Victoria Park next Sunday (12.10pm AEST). Meanwhile, the Kangaroos take a home game to Launceston when they host Geelong at University of Tasmania Stadium on Friday afternoon (5.10pm AEST).
 
ADELAIDE  0.2  2.2  2.4  4.6 (30)
NORTH MELBOURNE   2.1  2.3  2.4 2.4 (16)
 
GOALS
Adelaide: Ponter 2, Munyard, Gould
North Melbourne: O'Loughlin, Wall
 
BEST 
Adelaide: Randall, Marinoff, Ponter, Hatchard, Gould, Biddell
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Kearney, Bruton
 
INJURIES 
Adelaide: Nil
North Melbourne: Smith (concussion)
 
LATE CHANGES
Adelaide: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
 
Reports: Nil