A valiant North Melbourne has fallen just short of the Adelaide Crows, losing by 13 points in the final match of the home away season.
The 17.11 (113) to 15.10 (100) result confirmed Adelaide (18-5) will top the home and away ladder for the first time since it reached the Grand Final in 2017, with the best winning ratio in club history.
It came amid the furore surrounding Izak Rankine's homophobic taunt directed at a Collingwood opponent, which has threatened to derail the Crows' flag bid.
They comfortably passed the initial on-field test, though far greater challenges lie ahead in September, including a likely encounter with the Magpies in a qualifying final.
North Melbourne was competitive and refused to lie down, despite the Crows threatening to break the game open.
Adelaide, which led at every change, increased its advantage to a match-high 37 points with the first two goals of the final term.
North breathed life into the contest with four goals in six minutes, including one in controversial fashion when Adelaide's Mark Keane failed to rush a behind and was caught by Cooper Trembath.
The ball spilled to Tom Powell, who poked home a goal that was awarded on review.
Adelaide steadied when North's Finn O'Sullivan was penalised 50m for not obeying the stand rule on the wing, gifting James Peatling his third major.
KANGAROOS v CROWS Full match coverage and stats
Riley Thilthorpe and Ben Keays also finished with three goals, while the inexperienced Billy Dowling kicked two after being called up for his first game of the season.
Rory Laird (23 disposals) was among the Crows' major ball-winners on return from suspension, along with Sam Berry (24) and Jordan Dawson (23).
Adelaide's eighth consecutive win over the Kangaroos came despite being smashed in clearances (48-27).
Luke Davies-Uniacke (31 disposals, 12 clearances), Luke Parker (27, 10), Harry Sheezel (32, six) Tristan Xerri (25, seven) were all busy for North, while Paul Curtis and Trembath kicked three goals.
Crucial call ends Roos' charge
North was making an unlikely charge in the final quarter when a crucial call went against it. The Roos had kicked four straight goals and were within 13 points with 10 minutes to go when Finn O'Sullivan was penalised for not standing on the mark. James Peatling had taken a mark on the wing, was awarded a 50m penalty and went on to convert a tough, important shot.
Young Roo continues to shine
Cooper Trembath only arrived at North via the AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft in May, but the 19-year-old forward has made an instant impact. Trembath made his AFL debut against Greater Western Sydney in Round 22, kicking three goals. He backed that up with another three against Richmond before kicking three more on Saturday to continue his stellar start.
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.3 7.6 10.7 15.10 (100)
ADELAIDE 4.3 9.5 14.8 17.11 (113)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Trembath 3, Curtis 3, Stephens 2, Scott, Powell, Parker, Harvey, Davies-Uniacke, Darling, Banch
Adelaide: Thilthorpe 3, Peatling 3, Keays 3, Dowling 2, Walker, Taylor, Smith, Neal-Bullen, Laird, Fogarty
BEST
North Melbourne: Xerri, Sheezel, Parker, Davies-Uniacke, Simpkin, Trembath
Adelaide: Thilthorpe, Keays, Dawson, Peatling, Worrell, Laird
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Adelaide: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Harvey (replaced Payne in the third quarter)
Adelaide: Smith (replaced Draper at three-quarter time)
Crowd: 17,494 at Marvel Stadium
