AN EIGHT goal to one third quarter, including four from Jason Porplyzia, set up Adelaide’s 33-point victory over North Melbourne at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.
The Crows controlled almost every facet of the round-seven encounter and have cemented fourth place on the ladder with the win, but it wasn’t so cut and dried early.
Shannon Grant lodged the first major midway through the opening quarter, confidently converting after a strong contested mark over Kris Massie.
Leigh Harding added a second for the Kangaroos after classy work in defence from Drew Petrie and it took the Crows until time on to lodge their first six-pointer. Brett Burton found Kurt Tippett on a strong lead, and he kicked truly.
The 21-year-old Crow missed a golden opportunity late in the quarter when he roved his own marking attempt and missed from point-blank range.
Scores were tied at quarter time, North’s 2. 2 (14) matched by Adelaide’s 1. 8 (14).
Harding continued to have a big impact in the second term, kicking his second to give the Roos a break, but Simon Goodwin put the Crows back in front with his first.
Shannon Watt was adjudged to have chopped Goodwin’s arm in the marking contest and he converted from 45m.
Lindsay Thomas replied for the Roos after he lost his man in the forward line, marked and goaled, but the lead changed again at the 13-minute mark when Tyson Edwards was somewhat fortunate to kick his first with a left-foot wobbler.
The Crows had their biggest lead of the night when Richard Douglas kicked his first and Burton’s opener put the home side out by 15 points.
The Roos could have crept closer at the main break, but Daniel Wells slammed his relatively easy shot into the post from open play with three minutes to go.
North then gave away a 50m penalty and the ensuing attack allowed Jarrhan Jacky to kick his first goal in AFL football and give the Crows a 6. 11 (47) to 4. 3 (27) lead at half time.
After the Roos wasted a number of attacking forays early in the third term, Jason Porplyzia made them pay with a classy goal to open the second-half scoring.
Burton roved around the front of the marking contest at the top of the goal square soon after and cantered in to kick his second.
From the next centre clearance, Porplyzia snapped truly on his right to open up a 37-point lead and give North coach Dean Laidley some major concerns.
Burton then jarred his elbow and came to the bench, but the Roos were struggling to stem the flow of goals, and Tippett made matters worse for the visitors when he kicked his second midway through the term.
The lead was 48 points when Goodwin lodged his second but Brent Harvey finally got the Roos’ first of the term just as time on ticked over.
Porplyzia kicked his third from the restart however to restore the Crows’ advantage and Burton returned to snare his third with three minutes to play in the term.
North’s effort was summed up by Corey Jones and Lindsay Thomas both missing relatively easy set shots late on, the latter going out of bounds on the full.
Porplyzia capped the quarter with his fourth and Adelaide led 14. 11 (95) to North’s 5. 6 (36) at the final change.
The Roos got the worst possible start to the final term when Goodwin was paid a soft free kick and slotted his third.
The sting had largely gone out of the contest when Nathan Thompson’s kicked his first, a small sweetener on a rough day at the office for the big forward, and Harvey snared his second.
Daniel Wells and Grant also goaled for North, before Thompson lodged his second and Corey Jones his first to save further face for the Kangas.
ADELAIDE 1. 8 6. 11 14. 11 15. 17 (107)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2. 2 4. 3 5. 6 11. 8 (74)
Goals
Adelaide: Jason Porplyzia 4, Brett Burton 3, Simon Goodwin 3, Kurt Tippett 2, Tyson Edwards, Richard Douglas, Jarrhan Jacky
North Melbourne: Leigh Harding 2, Brent Harvey 2, Shannon Grant 2, Nathan Thompson 2, Lindsay Thomas, Daniel Wells, Corey Jones
Best
Injuries
Umpires: J Schmitt R Chamberlain S Jeffery.
Reports: Nil
Official crowd: 41,898 at AAMI Stadium.
