Boak: Gus focused on footy, not drugs saga

Port Adelaide forward Angus Monfries celebrates a goal. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia

PORT Adelaide captain Travis Boak has described Angus Monfries as iron-willed and seemingly unaffected by the latest developments in the Essendon supplements saga.

Monfries, who was traded to Port after the 2012 season at the centre of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigation, is widely believed to be one of 34 players who have been served with a "show cause'' notice by the agency.

He has declined to comment on the matter, as have all of the Essendon players.

But Boak could not speak more highly about Monfries' demeanor as ASADA has tempted players with a six-month ban and the Bombers are taking the matter to the federal court.

"Gus has been great,'' Boak said.

"We haven't spoken it at all. He's just worried about footy at the moment; he's worried about the Port Adelaide footy club and that's a credit to him.

"He just wants to go out there and help us perform and put everything to the back of his mind."

For all of that, Boak conceded it was a difficult situation to negotiate.

If Monfries did seek support, Boak said his club and teammates would be there for him.

The Swans have issued ladder leaders Port Adelaide with their second loss of the season, beating them 98-94 at the SCG.

"Certainly it's a tough situation and we don't want him to be in that situation at all but all we can do is lend a hand of support and if he needs us we're there for him,'' Boak said.

"But as I said, Gus is pretty strong-minded and he just wants to go out there and play footy.''

At Port prepared for an Adelaide Oval session yesterday morning, the club was smarting after last week's loss against Sydney and would use it as fuel against the Western Bulldogs.

But Boak said the Power held the Bulldogs in high regard and had been impressed with their upset of Collingwood last weekend.

"They're a quality side and they've had it over us for last few years,'' Boak said.

"We're expecting a very big challenge.

"They're right up there with the contested ball and the way they play their footy in tight.''

Boak's thoughts come after it was highlighted that Hawthorn great and commentator Jason Dunstall saying the Power had the ingredients to win the flag this year.

It had heartened the players, but they realised that dropping a game puts them in a more precarious position in the race for a top-two spot.

"It's great to hear those things but we were pretty disappointed just in the result and we can't control what's said out there,'' Boak said.

"But it's great to hear some positive club coming for the club.

"But we've got to make sure we continue winning because it's becoming really tight at the top.

"We need to make sure we finish the season strongly.

"This week is huge for us now.''

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Brown and out — Jonathan must walk away

Brisbane Lions midfielder Tom Rockliff admits he has concerns over the welfare of teammate Jonathan Brown, who suffered yet another concussion on the weekend.

JONATHAN Brown must put his long-term health before his football and walk away from the game.

He is a champion but as tough and as brilliant as the big Lions centre half-forward has been the time has come for him to realise his health is much more important than suiting up for Brisbane again.

The triple premiership hero suffered another sickening head knock and concussion when Giants defender Tomas Bugg collected him with his hip in a marking contest at the Gabba on Saturday night.

It is something that is happening far too frequently to the powerful forward.

Brown's facial injuries are mounting at an alarming rate.

The 32-year-old suffered three serious facial injuries in the space of a year in 2011 and 2012.

The most horrific were the shocking collision with Docker Luke McPharlin and the knee from Lions teammate Matt McGuire in a practice match which required reconstructive surgery.

Brown's fearless kamikaze running with the flight of the ball has caused a few of the bone-crunching collisions.

Others have been through sheer bad luck.

Lions champion Jonathan Brown being helped from the ground after another head clash. Picture: Matt Roberts.

Some people joke that Brown has more metal in his face than Darth Vader. But what he has been through is no laughing matter.

I generally find it difficult to tell players what to do, preferring to see them make their own calls on their careers.

But in this case I am concerned Browny will put his team first and play out the season, rather than walk away now and safeguard his health and off-field future.

When I saw the vision of Brown's latest collision on Saturday night I instantly felt sick.

I hate seeing players lose control of their bodies though concussion, although it's part and parcel of the game.

The second thought that crossed my mind was that enough is enough for Browny.

He's had a great run, he's been a great player, but his health should now be more important to him.

My advice to him, respectfully, would be this: You've had too many concussions and you can't keep putting your body through it.

Former Carlton premiership player believes Jonathan Brown will choose to continue his AFL career despite receiving yet another head knock and will only quit if he is advised by Brisbane or his Lions teammates.

My former Port Adelaide teammate Brad Symes walked away from his successful career just weeks ago after suffering his 11th concussion.

He realised that life is bigger than chasing the pigskin around.

Symes made the tough call that I hope Brown will follow.

Like Symes, the lionhearted power forward is a husband and father. His wife, Kylie, is expecting the couple's third child this week.

As players, the focus is always on you, especially when injuries strike.

Everyone constantly asks whether you are okay and how you are feeling.

But often it's the people close to you on the outside — your loved ones — who feel the pain of the injuries the most.

My wife, Rachael, family and friends came along with me on the roller-coaster ride through my 11 football-related surgeries.

No doubt retirement is a constant thought for the Brisbane superstar.

Late last year he surprised a few when he decided to saddle up for his 15th season.

When you get towards the end, retirement can be all you think about.

"How much longer can I go on?" you ask.

Brown's 2014 form has been solid without being spectacular.

He is not the Browny of old. Father time has caught up with him.

You only have to watch the Lions play to see the service he is getting isn't what it was in the halcyon days of the early 2000s when Michael Voss, Simon Black, Jason Akermanis, Nigel Lappin and co were delivering the ball inside 50 so superbly.

Playing on to help develop Brisbane's next batch of stars has merit and Browny is a proud man.

He told Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show that "the desire's still there to play football obviously, so you have to weigh these things up".

He followed with "I still think I can contribute enough to warrant a spot in the side".

There is no doubt about that but there is a bigger life picture than contributing on a football field.

His latest head knock should tell him that the time is right to put his long term health and family first.

His legacy won't be damaged by walking away from the game midseason.

Browny's list of achievements are the stuff dreams are made of — 256 games, 594 goals, three premierships, three best and fairests, five times leading goalkicker, two All-Australians, captain from 2007-13 and Coleman Medal in 2007.

If he retired today he would go out as one of the greats — a future Hall of Famer.

There is nothing left to achieve for him apart from mentoring the next Lions premiership. But that seems a fair way off.

Brown has given so much to the club he loves and it's now time for someone else to emerge from the big number 16's shadow and assume the mantle of being Brisbane's king of the jungle.

There is more to life than football and sometimes the most courageous thing to do is to walk away.

Warren Tredrea is Port Adelaide's premiership captain, Channel 9 News weekday sports presenter, Triple M Football commentator and Australian Football Hall of Fame Member.

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LIVE chat with Josh Jenkins from 3pm

IN another twist in their up-and-down season, the Adelaide Crows produced a comprehensive display to outpoint North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval last weekend.

They next face an under-siege Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night in a bid to strengthen their prospects of playing finals footy.

Josh Jenkins should be better placed than most to assess Adelaide's prospects after starting his career at the Bombers.

From SuperCoach advice to how to conquer the Essendon Army, Josh will do his best to answer your questions.

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AFL Team of the Week

Lance Franklin was in devastating form for the Swans against Port Adelaide. Picture: Matt King Source: Getty Images

IT was redemption round in the AFL last weekend as a host of high-profile players who have been under the pump this season answered their critics.

Lance Franklin has probably copped more heat than anyone after his move to the Swans but he proved why he deserves what Sydney is paying him by winning a game off his own boot against Port.

Travis Cloke — while not getting the win — also showed his early-season form slump is firmly behind with a six-goal bag against the Bulldogs, while Nic Naitanui and Tom Scully repaid some of the faith shown in them by their footy clubs.

All four featured in the Round 13 Team of the Week.

Jai Bednall's AFL Team of the Week Source: The Advertiser

DEFENCE

Rhyce Shaw (Sydney)

All the focus was rightly on Buddy after the Swans' narrow win against Port but there were a few timely interceptions in the backline which helped Sydney home in the final quarter. Shaw was the best of a back six which just did enough.

Daniel Talia (Adelaide)

Another stand-up job by Talia on the weekend. He restricted Drew Petrie to just six disposals and one goal in the Crows' season-saving win.

Shannon Hurn (West Coast)

The Eagles wouldn't have won on the weekend without Hurn, whose 26-disposal performance also featured a game-high five contested marks.

Brodie Smith (Adelaide)

A few people outside of South Australia may have been surprised with Smith's inclusion in some midyear All-Australian teams but he showed why he fully deserves it with another huge game against the Kangaroos.

Adelaide's Brodie Smith evade Kangaroo veteran Brent Harvey. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

Lynden Dunn (Melbourne)

Dunn continued his remarkable transformation into one of the competition's best defenders with 16 rebound 50s against the Bombers.

Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)

Afforded way too much space by the Saints, Bartel racked up 27 uncontested possessions and dished out three goal assists.

MIDFIELD

Brad Hill (Hawthorn)

Hill also handed out three goals on the weekend in a polished performance against the Blues.

Brendon Goddard (Essendon)

Outside of that costly final-quarter miss, Goddard was pretty much perfect against the Demons.

Essendon's Brendon Goddard in full flight. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Tom Scully (GWS)

He might be overpaid but Scully showed he's a fine footballer against the Lions on Saturday night.

ATTACK

Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)

Almost dragged the Power over the line with a superhuman final-quarter effort against the Swans.

Port Adelaide's Robbie Gray gets a handball away under pressure from Sydney's Josh Kennedy. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

Lance Franklin (Sydney)

A few more games like that and Franklin will be back in the All-Australian team after a one-year absence.

David Zaharakis (Essendon)

Back-to-back Team of the Week honours for Zaharakis, who had 31 disposals and kicked four goals against Melbourne.

Hayden Ballantyne (Fremantle)

A bag of six against the Tigers has Ballantyne on track to kick a career high in goals this season.

Josh Kennedy (West Coast)

When he's on, he's on but the Eagles need Kennedy to find a bit more consistency. Eighteen of his 32 goals this season have come in two games.

Travis Cloke (Collingwood)

Cloke has kicked more goals in the past three weeks than he managed in the first nine games of the season.

FIRST RUCK

Nic Naitanui (West Coast)

Without Dean Cox in the line-up, Naitanui showed why the future of the Eagles' ruck division is the least of their concerns with a BOG performance against the Suns.

West Coast's Nic Naitanui off David Swallow of the Suns. Picture: Paul Kane Source: Getty Images

Brad Ebert (Port Adelaide)

Another who ultimately fell in Buddy's shadow but Ebert's 40-disposal effort against the Swans was as good as any by a midfielder this season.

Tom Liberatore (Western Bulldogs)

Liberatore makes putting up double-figure totals in tackles and clearances look easy. Now if commentators would just stop calling him Tony ...

INTERCHANGE

Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)

Just pay the man what he wants.

Lachie Whitfield (GWS)

All of the drama surrounding the Giants' bad fortnight against the Eagles and Tigers is a distant memory after three weeks of solid footy. Whitfield has been prominent throughout.

Scott Thompson (Adelaide)

Thompson has quietly upped his average disposals by two on last season to show he's far from a spent force.

Mitch Duncan (Geelong)

The degree of difficulty was low against St Kilda, but Duncan's 20 disposal, three-goal game was still quite impressive.

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AFL star denies sex assault claim

Majak Daw has been released pending further inquiries. Source: News Limited

Majak Daw in training. Source: News Corp Australia

UPDATE: AFL star Majak Daw has denied sex assault allegations being investigated by police.

The North Melbourne forward, who it has emerged was arrested last month over allegations dating back to 2007, has said he is horrified by the claims.

The alleged victim told investigators she was assaulted by Daw at Altona North when she was a teenager.

A Victoria Police statement said: "Sexual crimes squad detectives arrested and interviewed a 23-year-old Wyndham Vale man on May 25, 2014, in relation to historical sexual assault in Altona North in 2007."

He was released without charge. No further comment would be made as the investigation was continuing, a spokeswoman said.

When approached by the Herald Sun on May 22 over speculation of impending charges over a sex assault matter, the Kangaroos star said he was shocked.

"It's 100 per cent wrong," he said.

"I'm so shocked to even hear about this. I'm shocked to even hear the police want to be in contact with me about it. That's really bizarre."

North Melbourne said at the time that executives had spoken to Daw about claims and were told he had no idea what they were about.

The club said it believed Daw's version of events and said he was troubled to have been accused of such a serious offence.

When asked if he was 100 per cent sure he did not have a case to answer he said: "I'm being honest with you — sexual assault. What?"

Daw did not return calls last night but it is understood the club is standing by him.

North Melbourne issued a statement saying it would not comment on the allegations, no charges had been laid and it had no indication they would be.

"We request the privacy of all parties be respected," the club said.

Club sources said Daw had kept them fully informed.

Daw is the first Sudanese-born footballer to play at senior level in the AFL.

He is regarded as having enormous potential and is one of his club's main marketing figures.

The 195cm, Daw joined the Kangaroos in 2010 as a rookie and made his debut last year.

Daw has played 12 games and kicked 14 goals.

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AFL backs Crows’ push for Good Friday match

Join Gerard Healy, Mike Sheahan and Jason Dunstall to talk everything AFL.

ADELAIDE'S push to open the 2015 AFL premiership season is stronger with the AFL Commission's ground-breaking backing for Good Friday football.

The Crows will have a double-edged presentation on the 2015 fixture asking for the right to open the premiership season with either the league's first Good Friday game or a Maundy Thursday night match.

If the Crows miss out on Good Friday - with the AFL recognising North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs have been petitioning for this fixture for far longer than Adelaide - the Thursday night game leading into the Easter long weekend will satisfy.

The 2015 AFL premiership season will be delayed until April to avoid a clash with the cricket World Cup one-day championships in Australia and New Zealand.

This event could work in Adelaide's favour to open the AFL season for the third time in the Crows' 25-year story.

Adelaide Oval will be free of the cricket World Cup from March 15 - 20 days before Maundy Thursday on April 2 next year.

This is ample time for the ground staff at the Oval to dig out the drop-in pitches and convert the ground for Australian football.

Adelaide Crows CEO Steven Trigg, left, with Adelaide Oval's Andrew Daniels and Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas. Picture: Dave Cronin. Source: News Corp Australia

The MCG will not be free of cricket until Sunday, March 29 when the ground will host the Cup final. This leaves just four days to convert the MCG for a Good Friday history clash between the Kangaroos and Bulldogs.

Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg on Monday night noted the growing national appeal of the Oval may work in the Crows favour for Good Friday football.

"The AFL fixture is complicated next year by a lack of grounds being available with the cricket World Cup," Trigg told The Advertiser.

"But Adelaide Oval certainly will be available for Good Friday.

"And if the AFL recognises that a couple of clubs (North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs) have had their hands up for Good Friday football for a couple of years now, we will step forward for Thursday night football before Easter.

"That fits in with our wish to have Thursday night football at the Oval in the lead-up to a public holiday and long weekend. We will make that request."

Adelaide signalled its interest in Good Friday football in The Advertiser on April 7 when club chairman Rob Chapman noted the public push for the new timeslot. The Crows were not hit with a member backlash.

"Done responsibly - with the game played late in the day after families have honoured their religious and family commitments - Good Friday football can work," Trigg said.

The AFL Commission came up with the same conclusion on Monday.

In its first major decision since the departure of chief executive Andrew Demetriou - who opposed Good Friday football - the commission ruled a new Easter timeslot carries public approval.

"There has been a growing appetite to hold a game on this day and on balance we believe the time is right," AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said.

"AFL matches are scheduled on every other public holiday during the season and we know that many families want to be able to attend and or watch football together on that day."

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Thompson blasts selfish Bombers

Essendon coach Mark Thompson discusses the Bombers' last gasp defeat to Melbourne on Sunday evening.

Essendon coach Mark Thompson rues the Bombers' missed opportunities. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

ESSENDON coach Mark Thompson last night said the week's ASADA controversy was no excuse for his side's dramatic fade out, accusing his side of playing for themselves.

A furious Thompson gave his players a fearful spray for 45 minutes after their loss to Melbourne made them the first side in history to lose despite 33 more inside-50s.

The Dons lost by a point after at one stage being 33 points up, but he suggested his players were selfish in failing to adhere to his rigid game plan.

It came as Essendon forward David said the players "hate" that outsiders use the ongoing supplements scandal as an excuse for when the team performs poorly.

MATCH: Demons inflict more hurt on Dons

THE TACKLE: Stars prove their worth

SUPERCOACH: Studs and Duds — Round 13

Thompson's mantra has been about predictability, but said the Demons taught his side a lesson in playing to a basic plan.

"I don't think we stuck to the game plan for long enough tonight. If you don't stick to it you have got no chance, because you have got a whole group doing what they want. That's what happened tonight.

"Talk is cheap if you don't get out there on the weekend and just do it. I am not upset we lost, I am upset by the inconsistency, the way we go about games.

"I just said, "Stop doing this', because if you are serious in what we do, just do it properly. Something has to change."

Asked what was said during the meeting Zaharakis said: "Just that we've got to become a stronger club, (get) a stronger culture at the club and have more leaders out on the field."

Zaharakis said a dramatic week at the club should not be used as a reason as to why the team faded out of the match.

"Us as a footy club, when we go out to train and stuff, we don't think about it at all, it's not in our heads," he said.

"We actually hate that people use this as an excuse because us, as footy players, do not use it as an excuse and we want people to know that."

A dramatic prelude to the contest saw 34 of Thompson's players hit with show-cause notices from ASADA, but the senior coach said it was a cop-out to say his players were affected.

"I haven't talked about it. I don't think it should be a factor. We have lived with it for two years, it is just another week at the office, really.

"If you talk about it, people could use it as an excuse, but it's not an excuse in my eyes.

We have lived with this and it was a bit worse than other weeks, but we have been smashed for two years so it's not as if they came out today and couldn't play because of the week they have had. We can't accept that."

Zaharakis is not one of the 34 players issued with show-cause notices last week, but said the players had a no-excuse philosophy.

"That's not just coming from me, it's all the boys," he said. "We spoke about it during the week that we hate that people talk about it. We don't use it as an excuse and we don't want to use it as an excuse.

"We're here to play footy and when we lose it's because we're not playing good footy."

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Crows must maintain rage: Otten

Adelaide forward Taylor Walker and North Melbourne's Scott Thompson fight for the ball at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Calum Robertson Source: News Corp Australia

Despite their win over an out of sorts North Melbourne head coach Brenton Sanderson says he won't be satisfied until the Crows sort out their inconsistencies

AGGRESSION will be the key to Adelaide ending its roller coaster form, according to defender Andy Otten.

The 6-6 Crows have the chance to move ahead in the win-loss ledger for the first time this season when they play Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night and Otten has put it on the players to take the opportunity after a year of missed chances.

MORE: CROWS' DESTINY IN THEIR OWN HANDS

"We have to get off this roller coaster, so that's our theme for this week," Otten said.

"Any team which is around you on the ladder you have to nail and we have to get a win this week and ahead of the win-loss ledger to push for the eight..

"So we've got to be aggressive and get a team effort right across the board.

"We have to be physical at the ball, win contested ball and back ourselves with our ball use.

"When teams come at us we can sometimes go into our shells and play safe but we don't want to do that.

"We've got to continue to be aggressive, continue to take the game and try to score quickly — be aggressive when we've got the ball and when they've got it to because this is a crucial game for us."

Otten said the players had taken it upon themselves to drive standards this week after a topsy turvy season where inconsistency has plagued the club.

But they remain in striking distance of the top eight after beating North Melbourne at home on Saturday night.

Adelaide could make one change for the clash with the Bombers with classy goal sneak Charlie Cameron a likely in if he can prove he has overcome groin soreness.

Brodie Martin — used as a sub against the Roos — could fall out of the side.

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McLeod rates Eddie’s miracle goal a ‘one in 10’

Adelaide's Eddie Betts has kicked a goal worthy of goal of the year in the Crows' clash with North Melbourne.

IF ANDREW McLeod had to put a number on it, he'd guess the Eddie Betts goal was a one-in-10 shot.

"But give him another 10, I don't reckon he'd kick it," the dual Norm Smith Medallist and Hall of Famer grins.

"It was one of those ones you just put up there and hope for the best.

"I don't reckon he hit it quite right either - but he won't tell you that."

A week after Port Adelaide's Chad Wingard pulled down a mark of the year contender at Adelaide Oval, Betts nailed a goal of the year chance at the city venue with a curling checkside on the run from the best part of 50m midway through the opening quarter.

Replays showed the ball was perhaps beyond the boundary as Betts steadied to unload - but given it takes half-a-dozen TV angles to split goal-line decisions, we'll let this one slide.

It was Betts's first of three first-half goals that gave Adelaide the spark to set up a sixth victory and an even 6-6 win-loss record for the Crows.

But it was more than just the six points that Betts delivered. It was buzz. Hope. Belief.

That sense of confidence that convinces teammates they could pass wind and produce a rainbow.

Adelaide forward Eddie Betts celebrates with Matt Wright and Scott Thompson after his miracle goal from the boundary line. Picture: Sarah Reed.

Basically, everything that's been missing in Adelaide's misfiring 2014 season.

It was the same infectious joy that Betts shared with Taylor Walker when the spearhead - who frightened supporters when he limped off during the third quarter - booted his second goal early in the last.

Betts is the kind of bloke Supercoach scores can't track. AFL statisticians can record kicks, marks, tackles, score assists. But how do you measure the effect a stadium of 47,000 fans rising in anticipation everytime the fella in the bright orange boots gets near the ball?

You can't. So that goal, it might be a one-in-10 shot. Maybe more.

But just by going for it, by rolling the dice on that miracle goal, Betts will do his job every time.

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Crows respond with gutsy win over Kangaroos

Adelaide have stayed in touch with the eight with an upset victory over North Melbourne.

ADELAIDE'S on-and-off season is on again as the Crows levelled their record to 6-6 with a 36-point win against dangerous North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

They responded to a public spray from coach Brenton Sanderson with an inspired display; they played with hunger, intensity and smarts only seen in the win against Collingwood this season.

MORE: MCLEOD RATES EDDIE'S MIRACLE GOAL A 'ONE IN 10'

They had winners in every line: James Podsiadly, Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts in attack; Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane in the midfield and Brodie Smith, Ben Rutten and Daniel Talia in the back half of the ground.

This year still looks like one of those when the club will be fighting for a spot in the top eight, but by beating the Kangaroos the Crows have brought some fresh hope into a season that has looked like slipping away more than once.

There were some predictable outcomes. Ruckmen Todd Goldstein and Sam Jacobs staged an intriguing duel and while Goldstein took the early points with the hitouts, Jacobs was important with an enormous work rate around the ground.

And this became was clear: this is a forward line the Crows have been searching for during most of coach Brenton Sanderson's tenure at Adelaide.

Adelaide Crows utility Sam Kerridge celebrates a goal with Rory Laird in the match against North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Morne de Klerk.

Robbie Tarrant, one of North Melbourne's key forwards, summed it up well in the lead-up: when the Crows put it together they have a dangerous midfield and a dangerous attack.

Betts, the former Carlton leading goalkicker, was a treat to watch.

Not only did he kick a goal from the boundary that will challenge for goal of the week - if not year - but he also defended like he had wagered his house on the match.

The Crows have not had a small forward forcing turnovers like Betts since Matthew Bode and like Bode, Betts has become a crowd favourite for his hard-nosed efforts.

Alongside Betts was Podsiadly, a late bloomer who was a pivotal player at Geelong during their rise to becoming such an imposing side.

Podsiadly, too, kicked a goal from the boundary that was from the top drawer. By half time, he and Betts had two and three goals to their name respectively.

Brent Reilly is chaired off after playing his 200th AFL match in the win over North Melbourne. Picture: Calum Robertson.

But there was another forward who set it all up without being in a hurry to collect individual honours and it was Taylor Walker.

It's not just what he does off the ball with his presence and composure. He also sets up his teammates, because there are few key forwards who are as happy to give off goals.

What's more, he creates opportunities to players such as Josh Jenkins and Sam Kerridge, who kicked a goal as a direct result, every time he is double-tagged.

Jenkins, like Walker, can also kick a long goal from outside-50.

At the other end, Daniel Talia did an outstanding job in containing Drew Petrie, who is one of the elite forwards on his day.

Adelaide lived to one of Sanderson's favourite saying for the first part of the match: let's put some speed on the game.

Crows forward Taylor Walker had a brief scare with his knee but returned to the ground. Picture: Sarah Reed.

What the Crows also did was to kick long and quickly rather than using shorter and more conservative means to move the ball into attack.

It was typified by Brodie Smith, whose quick thinking, running and elegant kicks kept starting waves of attack.

But North Melbourne, which has beaten teams such as Sydney and Fremantle on the road this season, changed the picture. By dropping players behind the ball and storming back, they made the Crows second-guess themselves.

Adelaide was still a long way in front, stemming largely from their aggression, but the Kangaroos made the Crows look vulnerable when they forced them to play slowly - the opposite of what had put them in front.

But the Crows managed to bring the speed back into the game, and it when they do as much that they look their best.

It turned out to be one-sided: by the 20-minute mark of the final quarter portions of the crows were beginning to stream out into the cold winter night.

Adelaide's Eddie Betts has kicked a goal worthy of goal of the year in the Crows' clash with North Melbourne.

A couple of changes from Sanderson - not least shining the blowtorch on his senior players - have paid dividends. The Crows would also have learnt that they are a better side when they move the ball on rather than playing a high-possession brand.

The season came alive again in Brent Reilly's 200th game for the club.

BEST — Adelaide: Smith, Talia, Betts, Sloane, Podsiadly, Dangerfield, Jacobs, Kerridge. North Melbourne: Greenwood, Thomas, Cunnington, Harvey, Dal Santo, McDonald.

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