Adelaide held on impressively to claim a crucial win at home to GWS, while Carlton came from nowhere to beat Brisbane and North Melbourne made light work of Gold Coast.

See how all of Saturday's AFL action unfolded.

Crows make a statement with impressive win over Giants

Taylor Walker answered some critics with a big last quarter. ( AAP: Dam Wundke )

Maligned Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins has booted three goals in a precious 21-point AFL win against GWS.

Jenkins was the standout forward in a tight Saturday night encounter at Adelaide Oval, helping his side triumph 12.10 (82) to 9.7 (61).

The Crows rose from eighth spot to fifth on the ladder by inflicting the fourth loss of the season on the second-placed Giants.

Jenkins' goalscoring — in his second game back in AFL ranks after being banished to the state league for six games — was crucial, while captain Taylor Walker (two goals) was influential in a tense last quarter.

Adelaide slipped four points behind some 11 minutes into the last term but finished with a flourish, booting the last four goals of the game.

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The flurry started with Walker's pack mark and conversion and ended with an Eddie Betts trademark — a freakish snap from near the boundary.

Adelaide's Crouch brothers were prolific ball-winners — Matt had a team-high 34 disposals and Brad collected 31 and kicked a goal, and team-mates Wayne Milera (21 possessions) and Rory Laird (28 possessions) were prominent.

The Giants were superbly served by onballers Tim Taranto (36 disposals, seven tackles) and Josh Kelly (33 touches, two goals), while Stephen Coniglio and Heath Shaw both gathered 27 possessions.

Both sides suffered late withdrawals — GWS star Toby Greene didn't overcome a knee injury while Adelaide's Tom Lynch hurt a calf muscle in the pre-match warm-up and was a last-minute scratching.

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Despite losing Lynch, the Crows opened strongly but failed to convert their dominance into scoreboard advantage — they logged 32 inside 50s to 17 by half-time but led by just nine points.

But when Jenkins opened the goal scoring for a third consecutive quarter and teammate Lachlan Murphy snapped accurately a minute later, the home side held a 21-point break six minutes into the third term.

The Giants then rallied and, when Kelly slotted his second major late in the quarter, the visitors were in front for the first time.

But GWS' four-point advantage at the last change rapidly disappeared in the last term when Crows Rory Sloane and Brad Crouch goaled, only for the Giants to reply twice to restore their four-point lead.

Walker then crunched a pack and took a high mark and goaled, triggering Adelaide's defining late scoring spree.

Cripps leads incredible Carlton comeback against Lions

Patrick Cripps was outstanding as Carlton recorded a breakthrough win. ( AAP: Julian Smith )

Carlton has climbed off the canvas in David Teague's first AFL game in charge, coming from behind to defeat Brisbane by 15 points.

The Blues conceded the first six goals of Saturday's game before mounting a Patrick Cripps-inspired comeback to prevail 11.12 (78) to 9.9 (63), less than a week after sacking fourth-year coach Brendon Bolton.

Cripps was sublime for Carlton in just its second win for the season, gathering 38 disposals and booting four goals in another performance certain to net him three Brownlow Medal votes.

The brilliant skipper put the result beyond doubt in the dying minutes when he soared out of a pack and kicked truly for his fourth major.

Ed Curnow (30 disposals, eight clearances) was also influential in the midfield and helped to quell the influence of Brisbane ball magnet Lachie Neale, while younger brother Charlie booted three goals in his best game of the season.

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Neale racked up 24 disposals to half-time but managed just seven after Curnow went to him in the second half.

After witnessing North Melbourne upset Richmond in Rhyce Shaw's first game in charge, Carlton fans were hoping their own caretaker coach would conjure something similar.

But six minutes into the second quarter, Brisbane held a six-goal lead and the Blues were yet to kick a major.

The Blues had 10 of the first 11 inside-50s but continued to waste their opportunities, allowing Brisbane to seize the momentum.

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Quick goals to Charlie Cameron, Neale and Hugh McCluggage extended the Lions' lead to six goals before Michael Gibbons finally put the Blues on the board at the 12-minute mark of the second term.

Having reduced the margin to three goals at half-time, the Blues came out firing in the third quarter as Cripps booted two goals in quick succession.

Mitch McGovern then took a strong contested mark and kicked truly to put Carlton ahead and pave the way for a much-needed victory.

Key defender Harris Andrews held Harry McKay goalless and was among Brisbane's best but the Lions were well-beaten in the midfield.

The Blues host the Western Bulldogs next Saturday while the fifth-placed Lions head into their mid-season bye with seven wins and five losses, having blown a golden opportunity to remain in touch with the top four.

Roos revival continues with cruisy win over Suns

Jack Ziebell led from the front for the Roos. ( AAP: Dave Hunt )

A seven-goal opening term has secured North Melbourne a 27-point AFL win over Gold Coast in captain Jack Ziebell's 200th game.

The Kangaroos were unstoppable early, opening up a 35-point quarter-time lead that laid the platform for the 14.15 (99) to 11.6 (72) win.

It means after defeats in his 50th, 100th and 150th appearances, Ziebell can finally celebrate a milestone with a win.

The victory — North's third on the spin — also means interim coach Rhyce Shaw has two from two in the hotseat following last weekend's upset over Richmond.

Despite losing midfielder Shaun Higgins in the third minute to a shoulder injury, North responded to Will Powell kicking the opening goal for the Suns with seven unanswered majors of their own.

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The 7.2 to 1.3 quarter ensured the Kangaroos had a lead the Suns were unable to reduce throughout the match.

Gold Coast simply was not at the races in the opening term, with the Kangaroos at one point dominating the possessions count 85-45.

Youngster Tarryn Thomas kicked two of those majors and finished the game as one of five Kangaroos with two goals.

Ziebell, Coleman Medal contender Ben Brown, Mason Wood and Kayne Turner were the other multiple goalkickers for the visitors.

Ben Cunnington had 31 disposals for the Kangaroos while Jared Polec (one goal, 28 disposals) was also impressive.

Ben King was the only multiple goalkicker for the Suns with two majors, while Will Brodie (nine marks, nine tackles and 30 disposals) and Brayden Fiorini (31 disposals) were impressive in a beaten team.

Suns midfielder Jack Martin was placed on report late in the second term for high contact on Ziebell when the pair contested for the ball on the ground.

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Martin appeared to get his hands on the ball before his hip collected Ziebell, leaving the Kangaroos' veteran dazed, though he did pass a concussion test to return after the break.

Ziebell ended the match bloodied after cutting his eyebrow but kicked two goals, laid 10 tackles and picked up 29 disposals in a typical all-action display.

Charlie Ballard may also attract the attention of the match review committee after appearing to catch Turner with an elbow, an incident that allowed Turner to kick a goal from the subsequent 50m penalty.

The Suns had an injury concern of their own with Jordan Murdoch limping off with a left ankle problem in the third quarter.

Players from both teams could also find themselves a bit lighter in the hip pocket after a boundary line scuffle in the final term.

Gold Coast travels to Townsville next weekend to host St Kilda, while the Kangaroos take on high-flying GWS in Hobart.

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