Star ruckman Todd Goldstein has led North Melbourne to their first round-one AFL win since 2009.
Goldstein was outstanding in the last term as the Kangaroos beat Adelaide by 10 points on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium, 16.11 (107) to 14.13 (97).
Continuing his All-Australian form from last season, the North ruckman put his team in front with a goal three minutes into the final quarter.
It was the first time the Kangaroos had led since early in the first quarter.
In a pulsating, physical game with plenty of niggle, North then held their nerve.
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Crows livewire forward Eddie Betts kicked his first goal of the game to put them back in front, but Drew Petrie then responded and a superb soccer volley from Taylor Garner gave them breathing space.
Goldstein had seven disposals and took four marks in the final term.
Midfielders Jack Ziebell and Ben Cunnington were best for North.
The Crows are a big unknown in 2016, given new coach Don Pyke and Patrick Dangerfield's defection to Geelong.
Josh Jenkins kicked five goals, Mitch McGovern was impressive in his AFL debut and Matt Crouch had a team-high 20 disposal.
North had three men on the bench from midway through the second term, when Hawthorn recruit Jed Anderson suffered a hamstring injury.
When captain Taylor Walker kicked the first goal of the second half, the Crows led by four goals.
As the game went up a notch, North's Shaun Higgins kicked a superb goal.
Before the game restarted, Adelaide defender Jake Lever pushed over Lindsay Thomas and the North forward was given a free kick.
Thomas kicked the goal and the momentum started shifting away from the Crows, despite two more goals to Jenkins.
Then came a devastating three-goal cameo in six minutes from 'Roos veteran Brent Harvey and at the last change, the margin was just one point.
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