Livewire Eddie Betts kicked four goals to help the Adelaide Crows down a fast-finishing North Melbourne by 10 points in Sunday’s AFL pre-season game in Port Lincoln.

Betts starred as the Crows, who led by 50 points at three quarter-time, held on to win 1.12.9 (90) to 0.11.14 (80) at Centenary Oval.

Luckless Adelaide forward Tom Lynch was concussed when collected by a Jack Ziebell hip in the first quarter as the Crows gave their new senior coach Phil Walsh a first-up win.

Lynch, whose 2014 was ruined by injuries, was perched over the ball when accidentally struck by Ziebell’s hip.

Lynch broke his neck in similar circumstances in round 20 last season, and also suffered a dislocated shoulder and broken jaw in separate injuries last year.

But the 24-year-old was cleared of serious injury after being stretchered from the field during a comprehensive win by the Crows.

Adelaide’s victory was built on prolific ball-winning feats of Brad Crouch (26 disposals) and Jarryd Lyons (20 disposals) while former captain Nathan van Berlo, replaced as leader by Taylor Walker this year, made a successful return.

Van Berlo, who missed all of last season with an Achilles injury, gathered 13 disposals and kicked the game’s only supergoal.

North, who took 20 minutes to register a score, were well served by Shaun Higgins (three goals, 17 disposals), Ben Cunnington (19 possessions) and Ryan Bastinac (18 disposals) while ex-Carlton forward Jarrad Waite booted three goals in his first competitive outing for his new club.

The Roos trailed by 25 points at halftime and were blitzed by Adelaide in the third term – the Crows booted six goals, including van Berlo’s long-range major, to North’s two and led by 50 points at the last change.

But North regained some respectability with a powerful finish, kicking 6.5 to Adelaide’s one point in the final quarter.