SANFL 2006 ROUND 13:
CENTRAL DISTRICT v WEST ADELAIDE
Bring on the Eagles
By STEVE BARRETT
LOOKING too far ahead is a risky proposition in football, but it would
be reasonable to suggest many Central District supporters have been keenly
looking forward to Saturday, July 8.
It is a date which sees the Bulldogs square off against highflying
Woodville-West Torrens.
The Woodville Oval clash between the in-form sides in the comp and the
two most consistent teams of the decade promises to be one of the fixtures of
the season.
Success against the Eagles would enhance Centrals hopes of a top-two
finish and build on the clubs expanding winning streak, which on the weekend
added
The Dogs eight-point victory at a taxing and rain-immersed Hamra Homes Oval could be described in equal portions as
gutsy, ugly, unconvincing and error-ridden.
But it was a win, and that's all that matters.
The Bloods had more of the play early and looked the more dangerous
side, but they were unable to capitalise in a first quarter clanger-fest.
The scoreline of no goals after half an hour
of play was more suited to the round ball code.
West goaled four minutes into the second term then followed with
another less than five minutes later to get out by 17 points.
Matthew Slade converted Centrals first major 12 minutes into the second
quarter, before goals to Daniel Schell and Chad O'Sullivan followed, as the
Bulldogs finally started playing system and skill.
A clever Quinton Graham major in time-on gave Central a six-point
half-time lead, which was built on when Slade slotted his second in the opening
minute of the third period.
Goals in time-on to first-gamer Alex Stengle –
an excellent ground-level effort, the likes of which the 19-year-old crumber from Salisbury North was selected
for – and Luke McCabe gave the Dogs a 21-point buffer at the
final change.
In the end it was enough – but only just, as the Bloods, spirited to
the end, charged at Central in the final stanza.
The visitors talented goalsneak Ben Haynes,
industrious and skilful in the wet, virtually ran a one-man show and singlehandedly lugged his side to within a kick of Central.
But the Doggies hung on desperately, despite mustering just two behinds
in a 35-minute fourth term.
“We never really adjusted and we were fumbly
for the majority of the day,” Central coach Roy Laird said.
“We never really played the team brand of footy you need to on these
sort of days. It was just some good individual plays which got us over the
line.”
SCORES: Central District 0.2-2 4.2-26
7.6-48 7.8-50 defeated
BEST: Central - Slade, Schell, Westhoff, Gowans, McCabe,
Mackenzie; West - Slattery, Haynes, Ezard, Walsh,
GOALS: Central - Slade 2, McCabe,
Graham, Schell, Stengle, O'Sullivan; West - Haynes 4, Dragicevic.