Overview

• Adelaide beat North Melbourne 17.11 (113) to 15.10 (100) at Marvel Stadium to secure top spot after the home-and-away season.
• The victory was the Crows' ninth in a row, delivering an 18-5 record that represents their best winning ratio and first ladder lead since 2017.
• Coach Matthew Nicks said the side was beaten at stoppages yet ground out the result and plans to freshen up before finals.
• Riley Thilthorpe, Ben Keays and James Peatling each kicked three goals, Billy Dowling added two, and Rory Laird tallied 23 disposals on return.
• A qualifying final against Collingwood is viewed as likely, a backdrop complicated by Rankine's four-match suspension for a slur directed at a Magpies opponent.