Adelaide survived a late scare in a tense nine-point win against North Melbourne which leaves the Kangaroos needing a miracle to reach the AFL finals.
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Final score
Adelaide Crows 12.14.86
North Melbourne Kangaroos 11.11.77
The Adelaide Crows host the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 4:40pm AEST.
It was a tough weekend for these two teams in Round 21 – Adelaide lost to GWS by 14 points and North Melbourne went down by seven points to the Western Bulldogs.
For the Crows, the last two games will be all about pride and finding some positives to draw from a season that was full of disappointments and injuries.
North Melbourne are not mathematically out of the finals just yet, but it will be very difficult for them from here, needing two wins and relying on other results to go in their favour.
In team news this weekend, Paul Seedsman and Riley Knight come in for omitted duo Lachlan Murphy and Cameron Ellis-Yolmen.
Mitch McGovern will also return, provide a tall marking option up forward in the absence of suspended captain Taylor Walker.
North Melbourne have made just the one change, resting Paul Ahern and including Nathan Hrovat in his place.
These two teams met in round seven last year; North Melbourne got one of their six wins for the season, with a 59-point victory over the Crows at Blundstone Arena.
Prediction
North Melbourne have surprised many this year, but when push comes to shove they don’t quite have what it takes to make finals.
It’s been a disappointing year for the Crows, after their grand final appearance last season, but expect them to finish on a high and take some momentum into next year with a couple of wins from their last two games.
Adelaide by 22 points
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 4:40pm AEST.
Amery Frend
Roar Rookie
Thoughts on the game: EDDDDDDIIIIIEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
The Adelaide Crows have held off a final-quarter comeback by the North Melbourne Kangaroos, to take a nine-point victory at Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon. After a close first quarter, the Crows dominated the middle two terms of the match and kicked out to a five-goal margin by the final change. But in the last, it was North Melbourne who swung the momentum and had plenty of chances to reel the deficit in to just three points. Jarrad Waite stood up and kicked two huge final-term goals, to inspire his side to almost snatch victory. The manic final two minutes had everyone making simple errors and cracking under the pressure, but in the dying seconds Eddie Betts leapt up and took a mark of the year contender at the top of the goal-square. Betts converted after the siren and extended the final margin to nine points. Again, North Melbourne allowed its opposition midfielders to rack up the disposals: Matt Crouch (46), Rory Laird (41) and Rory Sloane (29) found plenty of the footy. Josh Jenkins kicked three goals, while Mitch McGovern chipped in with two in his return to the side. For North Melbourne Trent Dumont (33) and Shaun Higgins (29) topped the disposal count for the Kangaroos, and tall-forward Jarrad Waite finished with three goals, while his counterpart Ben Brown was held goal-less. In a late change, Jake Kelly replaced Brodie Smith (calf) in the selected side. Adelaide lost Tom Doedee in the third quarter to a shoulder injury, while North Melbourne’s Will Walker went down with what looked like a hyperextended knee in the same term. Next up for Adelaide is a trip to Etihad Stadium to take on Carlton on Saturday night, where they will aim to finish their season on a high. North Melbourne will tackle St Kilda at Etihad on Sunday afternoon. Final score Adelaide: 12.14 (86) North Melbourne: 11.11 (77)
Swannies
Guest
Disappointing finish for Crows but got the win in the end.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
An exciting finish to that one, what are your thoughts on the game Roarers?
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
A comeback by North in the final term wasn't enough, as the Adelaide Crows held on to victory and extended the margin to nine points with an Eddie Betts' goal after the siren. Goals Adelaide: Jenkins 3, Greenwood 2, McGovern 2, Gibbs, Lynch, Knight, Gallucci, Betts North: Waite 3, Atley 2, Goldstein 2, Ziebell, Wood, Walker, Simpkin Disposals Adelaide: Crouch 46, Laird 41, Sloane 29 North: Dumont 33, Higgins 29, Atley 23 Final Score Adelaide: 12.14 (86) North Melbourne: 11.11 (77)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 0' - FULL TIME 0' - GOAL CROWS Seedsman told to play on, kicks to the top of the square... Betts flies and takes a massive grab - mark of the year contender for sure. Betts kicks for goal after the siren and kicks truly. Nine points the final margin, as the Adelaide Crows take victory over the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Adelaide Oval. Adelaide: 12.14 (86) North Melbourne: 11.11 (77)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 1' Final minute of this one... Seedsman has the ball on 50m. Adelaide: 80 North Melbourne: 77
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 2' 50m paid for coming over the mark, that after Ben Brown was clearly held onto in a marking contest... everyone is getting flustered in these final two minutes, including the umpires! Adelaide: 80 North Melbourne: 77
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 3' The Crows run and carry the ball outside 50 and their kick forward is intercepted by Tarrant... who then kicks straight to McGovern. Adelaide: 80 North Melbourne: 77
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 4' Very silly by Cunnington, McGovern is given a free kick and Cunnington kicks it away. 50m will be paid and the ball is now on half-back for the Crows. Adelaide: 80 North Melbourne: 77
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 5' - GOAL KANGAROOS Waite marks strongly inside 50, goes back quickly and slots the goal. No mistake with that one, 3 points the margin. Kangaroos on a roll.. Adelaide: 80 North Melbourne: 77
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 6' - GOAL KANGAROOS And they keep coming, this time Waite slots a beauty from the boundary. Wow what a time to drill that one. Adelaide: 80 North Melbourne: 71
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 7' - GOAL KANGAROOS A string of handballs and the ball is handed to Atley, who kicks a lovely goal. Kangas are coming... Adelaide: 80 North Melbourne: 65
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 7' - GOAL KANGAROOS Ziebell well outnumbered at the top of the goal-square, still manages to gather and snap the goal. Adelaide: 80 North Melbourne: 59
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 8' - GOAL CROWS After all their missed opportunities, the Crows make North pay with a long range Jenkins goal. He's been good today. Adelaide: 80 North Melbourne: 53
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 9' - BEHIND KANGAROOS Waite takes a good mark on 50m, goes wide to Turner, who misses on the run. Bad miss, really should have done better with that. Adelaide: 74 North Melbourne: 53
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 10' The Kangaroos certainly have had their chances this quarter, leading inside 50s in the term 8-4. Adelaide: 74 North Melbourne: 52
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 11' - BEHIND KANGAROOS Waite goes for an unorthodox kick in the air, but the ball is punched over the line anyway. Adelaide: 74 North Melbourne: 52
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 12' Brown finally sticks a mark, but a free is paid against for in the back. Adelaide: 74 North Melbourne: 51
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 14' - BEHIND KANGAROOS Dumont in Eddie's pocket, Dumont goes for a check side but it's punched over the line by Seedsman. Adelaide: 74 North Melbourne: 51