After falling narrowly short against Sydney last weekend, North Melbourne will hope to turn its improving form into four points when it heads to Adelaide Oval to face Kuwarna (Adelaide).

Round 10, Kuwarna v North Melbourne
When: Saturday, May 16 at 12.45pm ACST (1.15pm AEST)
Where: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA
How to watch: Foxtel, Kayo Sports

The opposition

Inspired by captain Jordan Dawson, the Crows turned a 10-point, half-time deficit into a 37-point victory over Richmond at the MCG last Sunday.

Dawson notched 29 disposals and a goal to help his side move to 5-4, while the dynamic Izak Rankine was also key to the comeback, finishing with 33 touches and a goal of his own.

The win was Kuwarna’s fourth in their past five outings.

The Crows could regain the services of tall trio Darcy Fogarty, Taylor Walker and Jordon Butts as well as Callum Ah Chee, but they might be without Riley Thilthorpe, who’s in doubt due to injury.

Running hot

It takes a significant performance to poll 10 coaches votes in a losing game, but Luke Davies-Uniacke achieved that feat against the Swans.

The star onballer notched a game-high 34 disposals to go with six inside 50s, six clearances and two goal assists.

He’ll need to be a key contributor again if the Roos are to snap their losing streak against the Crows and at Adelaide Oval.

What the coach has said

North Melbourne senior coach Alastair Clarkson on Thursday: "Bit by bit, we'll get all these pieces of our game (together) and then it'll all click at the one time. And when we get the genuine belief to do that consistently, that's when you become a really good side, and we're on the way to becoming that. But we've still got things that let us down at crucial stages."

Last time we met

The Roos produced a valiant effort in the season finale of their 2025 campaign but couldn’t topple the eventual minor premiers at Marvel Stadium in Round 24.

The Crows led at every change, but a four-goal-to-zero run in the fourth quarter for North Melbourne made things interesting until Adelaide’s James Peatling kicked a settler.

Cooper Trembath and Paul Curtis kicked three goals apiece, but the visitors ran out 17.11 (113) to 15.10 (100) winners 

Adelaide Oval again proved an unhappy hunting ground for North Melbourne after the Kangaroos were well beaten at the venue by Kuwarna (Adelaide) on Saturday.

After an even first quarter, the Crows piled on 13 unanswered goals to coast to a 68-point win, 20.13 (133) to 9.11 (65).

CROWS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

Paul Curtis kicked three goals in defeat and ruck Tristan Xerri (23 hitouts, nine clearances) toiled all day, but it was a bleak afternoon on the road for the Roos, who remain without a win at Adelaide Oval.

Kuwarna's second-stanza tally of 10.4 (64) was the club's best return in a quarter since round 20, 2015. Only six times have the Crows scored more in any term in their history.

The Crows move to six wins and four losses this season, picking up 13 percentage points in their blitz of the Roos, who slip to four wins and six losses.

Kuwarna, despite the absence of injured forwards Riley Thilthorpe and Taylor Walker, ran rampant to turn a three-point deficit 19 minutes into the first quarter into a 72-point break early in the third term.

Veteran Luke Parker topped ball-winners for the visitors with 28 disposals, followed by Harry Sheezel (24) and Davies-Uniacke (22).

North's alarming fadeout came after a bright opening – it scored the initial two goals and trailed by just four points at quarter-time.

But Alastair Clarkson's team was completely overwhelmed in the second term.

At one stage in that quarter, the Crows' pressure rating was 294 – a rating of more than 185 is considered high pressure.

Kuwarna's onslaught created a 66-point half-time advantage, 14.6 to 3.6.

The home side added another four goals to two in the third term for an 81-point lead at the final change.

Curtis booted two goals in the last term as the Kangaroos belatedly won the quarter, kicking four goals to two.

Next Up

The Kangaroos will look to hit back with an improved performance when they host Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Sir Doug Nicholls Round match is at 1.15pm AEST. 

KUWARNA                     4.2   14.6  18.11  20.13 (133)
NORTH MELBOURNE   3.4   3.6    5.8      9.11 (65)

GOALS
Kuwarna: Rachele 3, Fogarty 2, Keays 2, McAndrew 2, Murray 2, Nankervis 2, Peatling 2, Soligo 2, Cook, Dawson, Rankine
North Melbourne: Curtis 3, Darling, Larkey, O'Sullivan, Spargo, Trembath, Wardlaw

BEST
Kuwarna: Rankine, Dawson, Peatling, Rachele, Soligo, Murray, McAndrew
North Melbourne: Sheezel, Parker, Curtis, Xerri, Davies-Uniacke

LATE CHANGES
Kuwarna: N.Murray replaced in selected side by Nankervis
North Melbourne: Nil

Crowd: 41,313 at Adelaide Oval