Once again North jumped out to a fast start. Four goals to one saw the home team with a 20-point lead at the quarter time break; the Kangaroos have won eight out of nine first terms and scored the most of side in the AFL in that time.
| Season | 1st quarter |
| North Melbourne | 46.32.308 |
| Opposition | 25.25.175 |
| Difference | +133 |
The early lead was obtained quite simply by maintaining possession for longer than Adelaide.
| Round 9 | Time in possession (%) |
| North Melbourne | 54.2 |
| Adelaide | 28.8 |
| Difference | +25.4 |
The differential was the second largest in any first quarter played this season, with only Sydney’s first quarter against Brisbane in Round 6 having a larger margin.
Conversely, the struggle to finish quarters ended up being the major talking point in the afternoon. In time-on of quarters (after the 20 minute mark), North was outscored by almost eight goals.
| Round 9 | Scores in time-on |
| North Melbourne | 3.2.20 |
| Adelaide | 10.7.67 |
| Difference | -47 (points) |
A lot of Adelaide’s scoring shots, both late in quarters and throughout the afternoon, originated from North Melbourne’s forward 50.
The Crows elected to play a ‘slingshot’ style of football, pushing players behind the ball, gaining possession and then running forward in waves.
Sydney used this method to great effect during its premiership run in 2012 and the Crows had an impressive imitation of it.
| Round 9 | Scores starting from defence (%) |
| Adelaide | 37.1 |
| Competition average | 17.5 |
| Difference | +19.6 |
Even with Adelaide finding avenues to goal, North still played well enough to have a lead with a quarter to play – the sixth time it has happened in nine rounds.
| Season | Leading at final change (Games) |
| North Melbourne | 6 |
| Competition rank | Equal 5th |
