SUMMARY
The Kangaroos escaped comparisons with their 1972 selves – who lost their first 16 matches – when they finally broke their winning duck against Gold Coast in round six on Saturday night. But winning consecutive matches for the first time since rounds 18 and 19 last year will be difficult, with the rampaging Crows to come at Hobart's Blundstone Arena. Memories are still strong of Adelaide's 62-point defeat of North in last year's elimination final, ending a campaign that started with nine straight wins. They have gone in different directions since, with the Crows now an offensive juggernaut looking down on the competition. They are strong from back to front and boast devastating run, with Roos coach Brad Scott acknowledging the "formidable challenge" after the success over the Suns. Ben Cunnington is one North player looking to rebound after a 12-touch outing a week ago.
WHERE AND WHEN: Blundstone Arena, Saturday, May 6, 1.45pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
1EF, 2016, Adelaide 21.15 (141) d North Melbourne 12.7 (79) at Adelaide Oval
R14, 2016, Adelaide 12.28 (100) d North Melbourne 10.7 (67) at Adelaide Oval
R1, 2016, North Melbourne 16.11 (107) d Adelaide 14.13 (97) at Etihad Stadium
R1, 2015, Adelaide 21.14 (140) d North Melbourne 9.9 (63) at Adelaide Oval
R22, 2014, North Melbourne 14.17 (101) d Adelaide 13.16 (94) at Blundstone Arena
THE SIX POINTS
1. Adelaide thrashed North Melbourne in the 2016 finals thanks to the usual suspects. Eddie Betts booted six goals, Tom Lynch four and two each to Josh Jenkins and Taylor Walker. Majak Daw kicked four goals for the Kangaroos.
2. North Melbourne and Adelaide meet for the 42nd time and the Crows hold a narrow advantage, winning 22 games to 19. The Crows have won six of the last eight.
3. The Crows are the highest-scoring side this year, averaging 134 points per game – 17 more than the next-best side. They’ve kicked 121 goals for the season, which is 44 more than North.
4. North Melbourne and Adelaide have met once at Blundstone Arena, in round 22, 2014, with the Kangaroos winning by seven points. The Crows have played six times in Tasmania for one win.
5. The Crows are the No.1 ranked side for marks inside 50, contested marks, goalkicking accuracy and contested possessions.
6. Rory Sloane's brilliant start to the year propelled him to outright Brownlow Medal favouritism, and he is also at a career-high No.3 in the Schick AFL Player Ratings. The Adelaide onballer started the season ranked seventh.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Robbie Tarrant.
The Roos are handing Scott Thompson some of the bigger one-on-one defensive assignments this year, including Gold Coast's Tom Lynch last week. Tarrant is tending to fill the Alex Rance-type role, with his ability to read the play and hurt opposition sides the other way valued as highly as his shutdown skills. He will have his hands full with the potent Crows forward line on Saturday, so the role he performs will be fascinating.
PREDICTION: Adelaide by 47 points.
