IT HAD to be 19. It just had to be.

After making national headlines for fielding a 19th man in last week's preliminary final, North Adelaide ended its 27-year premiership drought with a 19-point victory against Norwood in a classic SANFL Grand Final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

A massive crowd of 40,355 – the biggest for the state league decider in 20 years – packed into the home of South Australian football for the clash of the two traditional rivals.

They weren't disappointed with a contest worthy of the unprecedented build-up and conjecture after the Roosters were allowed to take their spot in the decider, despite having an extra player on the field for almost four minutes in their five-point win over Woodville-West Torrens last Sunday.

After a marathon five-hour Tribunal hearing on Monday night, the $10,000 fine and loss of four premiership points – the equivalent of two wins – for next season is chicken feed for the Roosters' faithful after their club went from last in 2017 to lifting the silverware 12 months later.

The Roosters took the honours 19.10 (124) to 15.15 (105).

On a day when the Roosters reigned supreme, the Redlegs easily supplied the most influential player on the ground.

Former Adelaide midfielder Mitch Grigg put forward an outstanding case for an AFL lifeline, booting six goals to go with 31 disposals in a herculean performance to claim the Jack Oatey Medal.

Lewis Johnston (29 disposals), Matt Nunn (26) and Matt Panos (23) found plenty of the ball.

Roosters midfielder Thomas Schwarz was his side's best with 26 disposals, key forward Alex Barns was a handful with four goals while small forward Boyd Woodcock pressed his draft claims, kicking three majors in just his ninth game of senior football.

The Roosters led by five points at every change before blowing the Redlegs away in the final term.

NORTH ADELAIDE              5.0          9.4          14.7        19.10 (124)
NORWOOD                          3.7          7.11        12.14     15.15 (105)

GOALS
North Adelaide: Barns 4, Woodcock 3, Harvey 3, McInerney 3, Hender 2, Sweet, Young, Ramsey, Wilkie
Norwood: Grigg 6, Wilson 2, Phillips 2, Fuller, Bampton, Dawe, Shenton, Smart

BEST
North Adelaide: Schwarz, Barns, Allmond, Castree, Woodcock, Tropiano, Harvey
Norwood: Grigg, Nunn, Johnston, Wilson, Baulderstone

INJURIES
North Adelaide: Nil
Norwood: Nil