The Crows led at every change, but were made to earn every goal before blowing the game open in the final term to win 9.14 (68) to 3.6 (24).
Scott Thompson continued his purple patch of good form, finishing with 31 possessions and Michael Doughty was also prolific with 31.
Wet-weather specialist Jason Porplyzia (three goals) kept the scoreboard ticking over after quarter time.
North Melbourne’s own Scott Thompson was solid in defence, while Michael Firrito (22 disposals), Brady Rawlings (20) and Adam Simpson (19) all tried hard in the former skipper’s 300th game.
The loss was further compounded for the Roos when impressive first-year player Jack Ziebell was taken to hospital with a leg injury and Lindsay Thomas limped off with a hamstring strain.
A week after getting the jump on league leaders St Kilda, North Melbourne was rendered scoreless in the opening term.
The Roos dominated the clearances 17-8, but the Crows picked their pockets and streaked to a 14-point lead early in the quarter.
Tyson Edwards continued on from his brilliant form last week scoring the first goal of the game and another quick major to Chris Knights—who was being tagged by Rawlings— was cause for concern for North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley.
The Roos received a break late in the quarter when pelting rain put an end to Adelaide’s damaging run and carry.
The game deteriorated into an old fashioned slog, but the Crows still held a handy 16-point lead at quarter time.
Corey Jones got the visitors on the board in the opening minute of an uninspiring second term.
Doughty made a rare mistake in Adelaide’s back half and Jones pounced in just his second game of the season.
The Crows continued to push hard into attack but with little effect.
The home side managed just three goals from 38 inside-50s to half time.
North Melbourne, through Josh Gibson, Nathan Grima, Thompson and Lachie Hansen, was resolute in defence.
It took a Porplyzia set-shot at the 20-minute mark to finally break Adelaide’s goal drought and extend the margin back to 16 points at the main break.
A hamstring injury to the unlucky Brent Reilly was the only talking point in the first 10 minutes of the third term.
The Roos, through Simpson, Firrito, Rawlings and Hansen, arrested the ascendancy but failed to capitalise kicking into a stiff breeze.
It took some more brilliance from Porplyzia to breathe some life into the lacklustre affair.
The skilful forward kicked two goals in 10 minutes, including a clever right-foot snap, to score Adelaide’s only two majors of the term.
The Roos, at risk of recording another goalless quarter, responded with a goal to Aaron Edwards, but they still trailed by 20 points—with the breeze at their back—going into the final term.
Lindsay Thomas gave the visitors a sniff with his first goal in the opening minute.
The Crows had plenty of chances to respond, but sprayed four behinds before centre half-back Nathan Bock finally broke the deadlock and triggered a late flurry of goals.
Adelaide 2.4 3.6 5.9 8.13 (61)
North Melbourne 0.0 1.2 2.5 3.5 (23)
GOALS
Adelaide: Porplyzia 3, Knights, Edwards, Bock, Tippett, Walker, Vince
North Melbourne: Jones, Edwards, Thomas
BEST
Adelaide: Thompson, Porplyzia, Bock, Doughty, Mackay, Otten, Symes
North Melbourne: Firrito, Thompson, Simpson, Rawlings, Grima
INJURIES
Adelaide: Reilly (hamstring), Johncock (respiratory illness) replaced in selected side by Shirley, Douglas (virus) replaced in selected side by Petrenko.
North Melbourne: Ziebell (leg), Thomas (hamstring), Hale replaced in selected side by Harris.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Hay, Ryan, Avon
Official crowd: 30,173 at AAMI Stadium
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
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