The second game on Sunday for Round 9 of the AFL season is between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Adelaide Crows. The opening bounce is set to commence at 3:20pm with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The favourite for the match are home team North Melbourne Kangaroos but it should be a close match. View our preview and teams for the game between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Adelaide Crows.

Round: Round 9 3:20 PM May 26, 2013
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
Weather: 15° Shower or two

Featured Bookmakers:

North Melbourne Kangaroos $1.48 vs Adelaide Crows $2.60 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

North Melbourne Kangaroos $1.46 vs Adelaide Crows $2.80 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:

North Melbourne Kangaroos	1.48	1.46	1.46	1.46	1.48	1.49
Adelaide Crows	2.60	2.70	2.80	2.70	2.60	2.65

Preview:

A good clash here Sunday afternoon against two sides who need to win to keep in touch with the top eight.

North’s record this year reads 3-5 however, three of those losses have been by less than a kick and it was West Coast’s Nic Natanui who enhanced this agonising stat for North last week, kicking a goal after the siren for the Eagles to win 90-88.

That nature of that loss will be testing North’s patience however, think they’ll be able to take the positive approach and bounce back with a win here.

Adelaide have had an up and down start to the season but with wins over GWS and then St. Kilda last week, they have posted successive wins for the first time this season.

They needed to build momentum heading into, not only this match but for the coming month where they will face Fremantle, Sydney and Richmond.

A win is a must here for the Crows but North, who have had the better of recent clashes quite comfortably, will be too strong at home.

Teams:

North Melbourne Kangaroos:
B: Aaron Mullett, Scott D. Thompson, Jamie Macmillan
HB: Daniel Wells, Nathan Grima, Michael Firrito
C: Sam Gibson, Shaun Atley, Ryan Bastinac
HF: Ben Cunnington, Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey
F: Lindsay Thomas, Majak Daw, Leigh Adams
Foll: Todd Goldstein, Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell
Int (from): Will Sierakowski, Sam Wright, Lachlan Hansen, Aaron Black, Jordan Gysberts, Scott McMahon, Taylor Hine

In: W.Sierakowski, J.Gysberts, T.Hine
Out: –

Adelaide Crows:
B: Luke Brown, Ben Rutten, Andrew Otten
HB: Brent Reilly, Daniel Talia, Brodie Smith
C: Bernie Vince, Patrick Dangerfield, David Mackay
HF: Rory Sloane, Josh Jenkins, Jarryd Lyons
F: Sam Kerridge, Thomas Lynch, Richard Douglas
Foll: Sam Jacobs, Scott Thompson, Nathan van Berlo
Int (from): Shaun McKernan, Rory Laird, Ian Callinan, Jason Porplyzia, Ricky Henderson, Jared Petrenko, Matthew Wright

In: J.Petrenko, I.Callinan, R.Henderson
Out: –

Crows tell Johncock he’s still needed

Adelaide’s celebrated indigenous stalwart Graham Johncock has been told he’s still needed, despite continued rejection at the selection table.

Johncock is likely to miss Adelaide’s indigenous round match against North Melbourne on Sunday as his career hangs in the balance.

The 30-year-old has been overlooked for an AFL game since round four, but his captain Nathan van Berlo is adamant Johncock still has much to offer.

“He has been getting some good feedback from the coaches as well as the playing group that we need him,” van Berlo told reporters on Monday.

“He is an important player to the playing group. We know that. The club knows that. All the supporters know how important Graham is for us.”

Johncock, a 227-gamer, made his name as a defender but struggled when permanently moved forward this season by Crows coach Brenton Sanderson.

“It’s a matter of him working with match committee and the coaches to show that he’s ready to come back and the play the role they need of him,” van Berlo said.

The Crows expect Josh Jenkins to front against the Kangaroos, the tall forward reporting no lingering knee issue from a jarring incident in Sunday’s 40-point win against St Kilda.

“We’re not far off it at the moment,” van Berlo said of the Crows, who sit ninth with four wins and four losses.

“Defensively has been the big improvement over the last few weeks – it is something we have been really working at.”

Adelaide’s next month looms as defining, with games against North, Fremantle, Sydney and Richmond before their bye.

“They’re all going to be big games for us,” van Berlo said.