It was North Melbourne's fourth loss by less than a goal this season but this was the worst. The Roos were five goals up with 10 minutes remaining but the Crows kept coming to hit the front with less than 30 seconds to go when Jared Petrenko soccered a goal from the square. Sam Kerridge had kicked six goals, including two late and the Crows' season was revived. Petrenko, an indigenous man wearing the No.23 made famous by Crows superstar Andrew McLeod, said post-match he had tears in his eyes as he put Adelaide in front.

Before the game, former North Melbourne champions Jim and Phil Krakouer presented the umpires with the match ball as part of Indigenous Round. Just over an hour later, the Kangaroos' modern day equivalent of Phil – a left-footed, crumbing forward – had kicked four straight goals to take his tally to 180 goals in his 119th game. Phil Krakouer finished his 148-game career with 231 goals (average of 1.56 goals per game). Thomas finished his 119th game with 181 goals after kicking one in the second half to build his average goals per game to 1.52.

Jack Ziebell attracts attention whenever he bumps because of the two controversial suspensions for front-on contact and bumping he has received in his short career. In the second quarter he went to smother the kick Adelaide's Jarryd Lyons as the Crow ranthrough the middle. He jumped in the air and made high contact with Lyons who earned his team a free kick downfield. Lyons went straight off the ground but was back on in less than 30 seconds. Ziebell should be fine but one never knows when it comes to head high contact.

 

In an era when defensive footy is king, North and Adelaide contrived to lay just 15 tackles between them in the second quarter. Thirteen goals were the result as the Kangaroos charged to a 38-point lead early in the second quarter, enduring just six tackles from the Crows.  As a rope-a-dope strategy, it wasn't bad as the Kangaroos, seemingly lulled into a false sense of security, dropped their guard  and began giving the Crows space. Adelaide responded with seven goals of their own for the term, having to withstand only nine tackles.

 

In just his seventh game, Sam Kerridge was the star in attack for Adelaide. He has been playing as a run-with option in the midfield and had managed just six goals previously. However, he gave the Crows a spark up forward when needed and kicked three goals in the frenetic last quarter.