Eddie Betts booted six goals as Adelaide ended North Melbourne’s AFL season with a 62-point elimination final belting on Saturday night, but two key Crows face tribunal concerns.
Adelaide defender Kyle Hartigan was reported for tripping and fellow backman Daniel Talia could be charged with striking in the Crows’ 21.15 (141) to 12.7 (79) victory at Adelaide Oval.
The Crows advance to an away semi-final against Sydney, with Hawthorn to meet Western Bulldogs in the other semi-final. Qualifying final winners Geelong and Greater Western Sydney have secured home preliminary finals in a fortnight.
The Crows ended the distinguished North careers of Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Nick Dal Santo and Michael Firrito.
With the Roos’ quartet not being given fresh contracts at the club, only Dal Santo offered evidence on Saturday night that their delistings weren’t premature – he was arguably North’s best player.
Brilliant Crow Betts will star on the highlight reel but his teammates Hartigan and Talia will anxiously await match review panel verdicts after viewing the replay on Monday.
Hartigan was reported on the spot for tripping Kangaroo Lindsay Thomas in the second quarter – the Crow thrust his left leg into Thomas’ knee.
And Talia appeared to fell Roo forward Petrie with a left forearm in an act which sparked a fiery melee, also in the second term.
The incidents took some gloss off a polished second-half display from the Crows, who led by just 12 points at halftime.
Betts then was a key character in a third-term onslaught from the home side: Adelaide kicked eight goals to three to book their semi-final spot.
Betts booted three goals for the quarter and helped form a dominant Crows attack also boasting Tom Lynch (four goals) and Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins, who each kicked two.
Adelaide defender Brodie Smith (29 disposals, two goals) and teammate Matt Crouch (29 possessions) were superb while the Kangaroos had few clear-cut winners – Dal Santo (29 touches) was industrious and Jack Ziebell (22 disposals) battled gamely, while Majak Daw slotted four goals and Thomas booted three.
