Coming out of the bye, North Melbourne will head interstate to challenge the Crows in Adelaide for Round 16.

There were more positive signs on show from the Kangaroos against the Bulldogs in Round 14, but having faded late, they were left with a 21-point deficit on the full-time siren. A complete, four-quarter performance will be one of the main objectives for the visitors this Saturday, as they look to snap their losing streak.

Here's everything you need to know for the big Round 16 clash in this week's gameday guide.

Set your matchday reminders

Saturday, July 1
Adelaide v North Melbourne at the Adelaide Oval, 1.45pm AEST (1.15pm ACST)

The Adelaide Oval hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Kangaroos, but after some rest and rejuvenation, they'll be eager continue building their confidence on-field. 

A difficult side to defeat at home, Adelaide will be fresh off a heartbreaking, two-point defeat to the Magpies and hoping to remain in the top eight.

So you don't miss the game, or any others this season, make sure to sync the fixture to your calendar.

Ticketing

For Rounds 16 to 19, all kids aged 14-years-old and under will get free access to matches across Australia.

Check out what's on in Round 16 as part of the Kids Go Free offer for 2023.

Adults can grab their tickets here.

Be a part of history as we target beyond 50k members in 2023

The Kangaroos' journey continues in 2023, and we're looking to surpass last year's club record 50,000 members as the team continues its path towards silverware.

Joining up as a member is a great way to support not only the AFL team, but the entire football club.

Watch on TV or stream on your phone

Saturday's game will be broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.

Stay connected on social media

For behind-the-scenes access and all the best highlights, photos, stats and stories, we’ve got you covered.
 
Follow the @NMFCOfficial accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with everything happening at the match and don't forget to use #Kangas.
 
Bring on the Crows!

North Melbourne will face a stern test at the Adelaide Oval this weekend, as it hopes to snap its losing streak with an upset win against a finals hopeful.

Prior to their week off, the Kangaroos continued to improve when they met the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium, but they faded late in the game and Luke Beveridge's side triumphed by 21 points.

The Roos will take an undesirable record at the ground into Saturday's game, but it won't deter them from hunting down a third win for the campaign and first at the venue. 

The opposition

The Crows suffered a painful, two-point defeat to ladder-leader Collingwood in Round 15, but remain in the top eight with a 7-7 record.

Dynamic club captain Jordan Dawson put on a masterclass against the Pies, as he amassed a career-high 35 disposals, 12 tackles, 10 inside 50s, 665 metres gained and nine score involvements.

Key forward Taylor Walker is in gleaming form, having booted 15 goals over his last two appearances to shoot to first in the Coleman Medal race.

While the Crows' form outside of South Australia has come into question, the Adelaide Oval has proven a fortress for Matthew Nicks' troops this season, with six strong wins from eight games at the venue.

Running hot

Harry Sheezel's exceptional rookie season continued against the Bulldogs in Round 14 as the young gun gathered a game-high 610 metres gained and team-highs in disposals (32) and score involvements (eight) to earn a coaches' vote.

A composed half-back, Sheezel has been a revelation for the Kangaroos this season. He sits 20th in the competition for total disposals (374) and fourth for defensive-half pressure acts (199), showing just how influential he's been since debuting in Round 1.

He has also shown some recent flashes of his capability as a midfielder, having won five clearances in each of his outings against the Bulldogs and Bombers.

What the coaches have said

North Melbourne interim senior coach Brett Ratten post-game v Western Bulldogs: "Our ability to hang in (games) has improved. We've had five weeks of pretty competitive footy and you get caught up saying 'that's what we like' ... but we've got to become better than that and that's about digging in and scrapping … and that's got to be the normal."

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks post-game v Collingwood: "I thought we showed what we're about and the (type of) team we are. We started well, showed some grit … when we play aggressive footy we are a really good side to watch."

Last time we met

Adelaide 15.13 (103) def. North Melbourne 10.14 (74), Round 22 at Adelaide Oval

Ben Cunnington was denied a fairytale AFL return when the Crows proved too strong on home turf late last season, winning by 29 points.

The Kangaroos goaled three times in four minutes through Paul Curtis, Cam Zurhaar and Jack Ziebell to take an eight-point lead into the main change. The scoreline was all square at three-quarter time, but then Adelaide kicked for home, powering to the win with five unanswered final-term goals.

Luke Davies-Uniacke continued to elevate his game, delivering an outstanding individual performance despite the defeat. He finished with 37 possessions, 11 clearances, 10 inside 50s and a goal.

He was supported in midfield by Jy Simpkin, who gathered 30 disposals, 10 clearances and seven tackles, while Darcy Fogarty (four goals, seven marks) and Jordan Dawson (33 disposals, 830 metres gained, nine marks) helped lead the Crows to the four points.

A free-scoring Adelaide Crows side proved too hot for North Melbourne to handle at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. 

Luke Davies-Uniacke's welcome return inspired the Kangaroos for a period in the second quarter, but not for long enough and the Crows motored away to win by 66 points, 21.12 (138) to 11.6 (72).

CROWS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

Spearhead Nick Larkey kicked three goals for North Melbourne, moving to equal second in the Coleman Medal race.

The Coleman leader, Adelaide's Taylor Walker, kicked three of his own and was one of seven multiple goalkickers for the home side, led by Izak Rankine (five goals).

The 17th-placed Roos were just seven points down 23 minutes into the second quarter but conceded nine of the next 10 goals.

Larkey slotted three goals in a 10-minute purple patch in the second term, Tarryn Thomas (two goals, 23 disposals) had patches of influence and Harry Sheezel was the Roos' chief ball-winner with 31 disposals.

The Crows, with Rankine booting two goals and setting up another, scored 7.2 to 4.1 in an opening quarter punctuated by an injury to key defender Jordon Butts and a flashpoint for the Roos' Callum Coleman-Jones.

Butts left the field, concussed and clutching his left cheekbone, after an accidental clash of heads while Coleman-Jones' late air-borne crash into Nick Murray after the Crow took a mark may attract match review scrutiny

It was all the Kangaroos after the first break as Davies-Uniacke began to assert control in the contest. Larkey kicked all three of his goals in the quarter and when Davies-Uniacke slotted a running goal to a chorus of boos from the home support, the gap was cut to six points.

But while the Roos looked to make their dominance count on the scoreboard, they were unable to prevent Adelaide pinch-hitting at the other end.

As momentum swung the Crows' way they piled on three unanswered goals before half-time, before accelerating with four goals in less than 12 minutes to kill off the Kangaroos in the third term. They were 53 points up at the last change and added four goals to two in the final quarter.

Did you see that?

It's going to take three high-quality goals to deny Jy Simpkin a Goal of the Year nomination this week. The Kangaroos co-captain was heading towards the cheap seats in the right forward pocket when he collected the ball from Luke Davies-Uniacke late in the first quarter. A glance up revealed a crowded forward line, so Simpkin lowered his eyes and coolly split the sticks.

Coleman-Jones late contact sparks remonstration

An entertaining first quarter ended with a fiery incident when Callum Coleman-Jones collected Nick Murray late in a marking contest. Murray, going back with the flight, took the mark but the airborne Coleman-Jones' knee and forearm crashed into his head and neck a half-second later. Crows players, Murray included, were quick to remonstrate, with the fracas picking up again 30 seconds later after the quarter-time siren sounded. 

What's next?

The challenge doesn't get any easier for the Kangaroos, who travel down the Princes Highway to face Geelong at GMHBA Stadium next Sunday. Friday night's draw against Sydney nudged the Cats out of the eight, and they will be motivated to claw their way back. Bouncedown is at 1.10pm AEST.

ADELAIDE CROWS         7.2      12.5       17.8      21.12 (138)
NORTH MELBOURNE      4.1      8.3         9.3        11.6 (72)

GOALS
Adelaide Crows: Rankine 5, Fogarty 4, Walker 3, Keays 2, O'Brien 2, Pedlar 2, Thilthorpe 2, Murphy
North Melbourne: Larkey 3, Stephenson 2, Thomas 2, Davies-Uniacke, Scott, Simpkin, Zurhaar

BEST 
Adelaide: O'Brien, Keays, Dawson, Rankine, Hinge, Sloane
North Melbourne: Sheezel, Wardlaw, Thomas, Larkey, Ziebell

INJURIES 
Adelaide: Butts (concussion)
North Melbourne: TBC  

SUBSTITUTES 
Adelaide: Lachlan Sholl (replaced Jordon Butts in the second quarter)
North Melbourne: Hugh Greenwood (replaced Todd Goldstein in the third quarter)