In the battle for second place on the ladder, the Adelaide Crows got the chocolates at Norwood Oval with a three-point win over the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos, 6.5 (41) to 5.8 (38).
The Kangaroos got out to a bounding start, suffocating the usually-attacking Crows early, halting almost any effort made to get the ball inside 50.
Ellie Gavalas kicked the first goal of the match - and her first of the season - and that kick-started the Roos’ attack, with goals to follow from Jasmine Garner and Tahlia Randall.
Eloise Jones was the only goal scorer for the Crows in the first quarter, and Ebony Marinoff, in her 75th game, had 11 disposals by quarter time.
In the second quarter, the Crows chipped away at the Kangaroos’ walls and pulled the margin back to just seven points by half time.
The Kangaroos dominated the inside 50s in the first half with nearly double what the Crows had.
The Crows came out with renewed energy in the third quarter and punted the ball inside 50 early, but could not capitalise and the Kangaroos took control.
Caitlin Gould put her hand up for another Goal of the Year nomination, shrugging tackles from Eliza Shannon and Erika O’Shea before snapping the goal from the pocket to give her side the lead.
But the Kangaroos wrenched the lead back three minutes later after their attacks turned defenders and turned over the ball in the forward 50, with Garner kicking truly for her second of the day.
Mia King was on track for one of her best matches to date, getting amongst the action and pushing the ball forward for the Roos, and Ash Riddell was as consistent and influential as usual.
The last quarter was frantic from start to finish, but it was the Crows who had a slightly steadier ship.
The home side trailed by just one point after a chain of strong marks from Eloise Jones then Danielle Ponter finished with a goal to the latter after a 50m penalty.
Kate Shierlaw flew for a contested mark but as she came down she collided with teammate Lulu Pullar, and both players had to leave the field with the blood rule in crucial minutes.
The Kangaroos did all they could to turn the game to their favour but the ball just could not get through the big sticks and they continued to trail.
With 90 seconds to go, Taylah Levy handballed to speedster Niamh Kelly, who was able to run on and slot it through.
The crowd held its breath as the Kangaroos sent the ball forward, but desperate defending by the Crows and game-saving clearance by Marinoff saw the home side victorious by three points.
ADELAIDE 1.2 3.2 4.4 6.5 (41)
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.2 4.3 5.4 5.8 (38)
GOALS
Adelaide: Gould 2, Prowse, Ponter, Kelly, Jones
North Melbourne: Garner 2, Shierlaw, Randall, Gavalas
BEST
Adelaide: Marinoff, Hatchard, Kelly, Biddell, J. Allan,
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, King, Bruton, Randall
INJURIES
Adelaide: TBC
North Melbourne: TBC
Reports: TBC
Crowd: TBC at Norwood Oval
