Adelaide isn’t out of the running for a finals berth just yet, but it will take a lot of luck for it to jump back into the top eight after its seven-point loss to North Melbourne. The Crows need to do the expected and dispatch St Kilda next week while hoping Richmond (St Kilda, Sydney Swans), Collingwood (GWS, Hawthorn) and West Coast (Melbourne, Gold Coast) all lose at least one of their next two matches. While Crows fans will be dismayed their side couldn’t make the eight entirely on their own terms, the result in Hobart certainly sets up a gripping conclusion to the home-and-away season.

While perfect conditions suggested the ball would be zipping around all over Blundstone Arena on Saturday, both sides suffered through patches of poor disposal during the first half, a trend highlighted by a number of goals from  turnovers during the second term. First it was North forward Drew Petrie who swooped on a lazy cross-field kick from Luke Brown to ram home his second major and minutes later Crows goalsneak Charlie Cameron had his first courtesy of an ineffective Kangaroos handball at half-back. With finals footy looming, both sides will be desperate to iron out this kind of sloppiness, knowing similar mistakes in September can be particularly costly.

In a game that featured seven lead changes, it took the Crows until the 25-minute mark of the second term to hit the front and when they did it seemed almost to be against the run of play. At the main break the Roos had recorded 50 more disposals than Adelaide, but were playing less effective footy. While the Crows forwards weren’t exactly firing, they were receiving more direct service from teammates willing to keep the ball moving and who were running harder in transition. These efforts were illustrated by in an inside-50 count that favoured the visitors by 29-23 despite the extra possession North had enjoyed to that point.

When he missed two set-shots on goal during the third term it appeared that North midfielder Jack Ziebell had missed his chance to make a telling impact on the scoreboard in a tight tussle against the spirited Crows. As it transpired, the nuggety onballer moved to the goalsquare to start the final term and repaid coach Brad Scott’s faith with a pair of vital majors that restored the Kangaroos to a narrow lead. Having started the match with nine goals for the season, Ziebell’s return of 4.5 was as unlikely as it was vital and could have been absolutely spectacular if he’d capitalised on a number of kickable chances during the second half.

Brent Harvey’s suspension loomed as an untimely disturbance for the Kangaroos but in the veteran’s absence, North fans may have just seen a glimpse of the club’s next pint-sized champion. Rookie listed Kayne Turner, aged 18 and weighing all of 67kg, was a spritely presence in the Roos’ forward half, kicking a goal early in the first quarter, buzzing around the feet of his more physically imposing teammates as well as providing dash in transition. He chimed in with a steadying second goal midway through the third quarter, finishing with 12 disposals, five tackles and 2.1 in an impressive second AFL match.