SANFL 2006 ROUND 22: CENTRAL DISTRICT v NORTH ADELAIDE

Bulldogs too patchy - Inconsistent Central riding the extreme highs and lows

By STEVE BARRETT

AT ITS best, Central District still has the skill, desire and know-how to challenge strongly for this year's flag.

At their worst, the Bulldogs are merely making up the post-season numbers.

For much of this season, Central has hovered too frequently between good and bad, with consistency being notably absent.

Saturday night's two-point reversal against North Adelaide at Elizabeth was a microcosm of the Bulldogs' 2006 season – splashes of brilliance, patches of second-guessing indolence and a gutsy late charge that ultimately came up just short against a quality and no longer intimidated opposition.

At the end of a low scoring yet high-quality first half arm wrestle in which Central probably had the better of the general play, North held sway by four points after scores were locked away at quarter-time.

The Roosters emerged from the main interval full of purpose, run and dash, booting five goals without reply before time-on before the Dogs booted three of the last four goals, giving North a 23-point three-quarter-time advantage.

After an even tussle for three quarters, Adrian Wilson converted a set shot for Central early in the fourth before North slammed on three unanswered goals in 10 minutes to open up a seemingly impregnable 37-point buffer at the 17-minute mark. At that point the Roosters appeared to visibly relax, which allowed the Doggies to pounce. Central kicked the last six goals of the match through six different individual goal-kickers from the 19-minute mark onwards.

Three goals to the home side in as many minutes from the 28-minute mark, courtesy of Leigh Westhoff, Wilson and Luke Cowan sliced North's lead to just two points.

Cowan's effort at the 31-minute mark, a long-range running goal was a gem and had the crowd in full voice.

Under siege, the Roosters managed to cling on grimly for the next minute and claim a tense yet morale-raising victory.

The Dogs' accuracy (they didn’t register a behind after half-time) and resilience down the stretch almost allowed them to pinch an impossible come-from-behind triumph, but some earlier errors in both defence and attack put the home side behind the eight-ball.

“We take away some positives,” Central coach Roy Laird said.

“I thought we had the better of the first half and we were full of run right through to the final siren, so in terms of fitness, that is a positive.

“In the third quarter, North simply worked harder.

“We weren't accountable one-on-one and we were too slow at moving the footy.

“Our ability to play four quarters of footy is still a concern. We need to start playing stronger footy for longer.”