Danielle Ponter lit up Unley Oval in Indigenous Round while Ebony Marinoff put on a midfield masterclass as Adelaide overcame some early wobbles to grind out a 14-point AFLW win over North Melbourne.
Best-afield Marinoff (29 disposals, 13 tackles, seven inside-50s, six clearances) typically worked tirelessly both ways on Saturday, while Darwin-born Ponter, the niece of Michael Long and cousin of Cyril Rioli, had the crowd on their feet with two goals from the top shelf.
The Crows controlled proceedings from quarter-time onwards after being jumped by the Kangaroos, who booted their only two majors - through Alice O'Loughlin and Vikki Wall - during a period of first-quarter ascendancy.
The Kangaroos' tackling pressure was immense and their gun midfielder Jasmine Garner began exerting her influence.
They moved ahead by 12 points early in the second term before a moment of misfortune sparked the stagnant Crows.
Centre half-back Sarah Wright accidentally toe-poked the ball out of bounds before receiving a 50m penalty for not giving the ball directly to Hannah Munyard, who duly strolled in to kick Adelaide's first.
The reigning premiers, finally, were away.
The Crows finished the half strongly and trimmed North's advantage to one point when Danielle Ponter threaded a classy checkside goal with 52 seconds remaining.
The Kangaroos were without winger Amy Smith after half-time after she was concussed in the second term in a collision with Marinoff and were unable to get back on top.
Behind a notable midfield lift, the Crows had the better of a goalless third-quarter arm-wrestle to draw level at the last change before dominating the fourth.
Captain Chelsea Randall, who had her hands full with Garner in an engrossing four-quarter duel, won a crucial 50/50 ground ball against the Roos superstar, which set the table for Ponter to shine.
Ponter gathered the pill, spun around Jasmine Ferguson and Wright, and finished brilliantly to put Adelaide in total control before ruck Caitlin Gould iced it with a late major.
