Betts at best to hold out Roos

LIVEWIRE Eddie Betts kicked four goals to help the Adelaide down a fast-finishing North Melbourne by 10 points in yesterday’s AFL pre-season game in Port Lincoln.

Betts starred as the Crows, who led by 50 points at threequarter time, held on to win at Centenary Oval.

Adelaide forward Tom Lynch was concussed when collected by a Jack Ziebell hip in the first quarter as the Crows gave new senior coach Phil Walsh a first-up win.

Lynch, whose 2014 was ruined by injuries, was over the ball when hit by Ziebell’s hip.

He broke his neck in similar circumstances in Round 20 last season, and also suffered a dislocated shoulder and broken jaw last year.

But the 24-year-old was cleared of serious injury after being stretchered off.

Adelaide’s victory was built on prolific ball-winning feats of Brad Crouch (26 disposals) and Jarryd Lyons (20 disposals) while former captain Nathan van Berlo made a successful return.

Van Berlo, who missed last season with an achilles injury, had 13 disposals and kicked the game’s only supergoal.

North were well served by Shaun Higgins (three goals, 17 disposals), Ben Cunnington (19 possessions) and Ryan Bastinac (18 disposals) while exCarlton forward Jarrad Waite booted three goals in his first outing for his new club.

The Roos trailed by 25 points at halftime and were blitzed by Adelaide in the third term — the Crows booted six goals, including van Berlo’s long-range major, to lead by 50 points at the last change.

But North regained some respectability with a powerful finish, kicking 6.5 to Adelaide’s one point in the final quarter.