HIGH-flying Adelaide forward Shane McAdam has booted three goals in a 44-point trouncing of AFL wooden-spooners North Melbourne.
The Crows jumped from 17th to 15th with 13.20 (98) to 8.6 (54) victory at Adelaide Oval in the season’s last home-and-away game.
McAdam’s cameos and the midfield mastery of Ben Keays (38 touches, two goals) highlighted Adelaide’s seventh win – three more than last season when wooden- spooners.
That proverbial trophy now belongs with the Kangaroos, who finish year one of their David Noble rebuild with four wins and a draw.
The Roos on Sunday kicked the opening goal and then conceded seven of the next eight – they were in strife when 17 points down at quarter-time.
The Crows, with McAdam’s soaring leap on North’s Aiden Bonar in the first term a highlight, stretched their advantage to 24 points at halftime, 5.9 to 2.3.
Adelaide, in the final games of stalwarts David Mackay (retired) and delistee Tom Lynch, whose second-last kick for the Crows was a goal, then opened up a commanding break early in the third term.
McAdam converted again and Chayce Jones scored on the run, creating a 40-point advantage 11 minutes into the quarter.
North spearhead Nick Larkey, with three last-half goals, provided some bright spots for the visitors, with teammates Aaron Hall (37 disposals) and Tarryn Thomas (26 touches, one goal) their standouts.
Adelaide’s Rory Laird led all ball-winners with his 40 possessions including 10 clearances while Keays, captain Rory Sloane (27 disposals), Ned McHenry (24, one goal) and half-back Brodie Smith (26 possessions) were influential.
(C) AAP 2021
ADELAIDE 4.6 5.9 8.15 13.20 (98)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.1 2.3 5.4 8.6 (54)
Goals: Adelaide: S McAdam 3 B Keays 2 C Jones D Mackay H Schoenberg L Gollant N McHenry P Seedsman R Thilthorpe T Lynch. North Melbourne: N Larkey 3 B Scott J Anderson J Walker T Thomas W Phillips.
Umpires: Robert O’Gorman, Brent Wallace, Eleni Glouftsis.
Venue: Adelaide Oval.
