Adelaide ended North Melbourne’s AFL finals hopes with a gritty nine-point victory at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

The Crows won 11.13 (79) to 10.10 (70) to leave North three wins outside the top eight with just three remaining games – against certain finalists Essendon, Hawthorn and Collingwood.

Adelaide will also miss the playoffs but withstood a gallant comeback from the Roos to post their eighth win of the season.

Crows midfielder Rory Sloane was outstanding and kicked two goals, a return matched by his teammates Andy Otten and Richard Douglas.

North goalsneak Leigh Adams booted three majors, Lindsay Thomas kicked two and the smooth-moving Daniel Wells capped his brilliant game with two goals.

Adelaide seized control early and held the Kangaroos goal-less in the opening term while kicking three themselves.

The Crows continued to dominate in the second stanza and when Otten booted his second goal in the 16th minute, Adelaide skipped 32 points clear – the biggest lead of the match.

The Crows led 7.7 to 3.5 at halftime but North launched a spirited comeback in the third term.

The Roos were inspired by Wells, who kicked a remarkable goal – he launched a kick from the defensive side of the centre circle and the ball rolled through the goals, travelling a distance of some 85 metres.

His teammate Jamie Macmillan soon followed with an accurate snap and a five-goal burst by the visitors gave them a two-point buffer 25 minutes into the quarter.

But Adelaide’s Tom Lynch rapidly replied for the Crows, who held a four-point advantage at three quarter-time.

North stole back the lead early in the last when Todd Goldstein goaled but again the Crows responded with Jared Petrenko snapping accurately to restore Adelaide’s advantage.

Sloane soon added another, enough to give the Crows a defining break.

The Crows travel to play Western Bulldogs in Melbourne next Sunday while the Kangaroos play Essendon next Saturday.