SANFL 2006 QUALIFYING FINAL: NORTH ADELAIDE v CENTRAL DISTRICT

Bulldogs win when it counts

By ROBERT LAIDLAW

CENTRAL District sent a loud and clear message to the rest of the SANFL last Sunday in its 38 point victory over North Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in the qualifying final – the Bulldogs are back.

As inconsistent as Central has been this season, and more worrying, in individual games, the Dogs put it all together at the right time of the year, winning their seventh consecutive finals game, dating back to the 2002 Grand Final loss, which is a club record.

Roy Laird has a unique record, having coached Central in all seven finals victories over the past four years, with Sunday's win over North Adelaide achieved against the odds, stamping him as one of the best in the SANFL coaching business.

The Bulldogs were hard at it from the start of the game, with Daniel Schell booting two early goals to set the pattern, and its on-ball brigade dictating terms at the 50-50 contests, while the defence remained frugal.

Central dominated in the time on period of the first three quarters, which proved the main difference between the sides, the Dogs kicking two, four and four goals, to none, one and one, to lead by 58 points at the final change.

“Our pressure was very good today, including our implied pressure, which forced around eight out-on-the-full kicks and many other mistakes,” Laird said.

Paul Scoullar and Jason MacKenzie matched it with North's rucks, while Matthew Slade, the Gowans twins – Chris and James, Adam Switala, Chad O'Sullivan, Luke McCabe and Paul Thomas rotated through the midfield successfully.

Now Central faces its favourite finals opponent Woodville-West Torrens, which has had the upper hand this season.

This Sunday Central will be hoping to extend its record run of six consecutive second semi-final victories – 2000-2005, against the Eagles, a team it has never lost to in finals – for a 7-0 record.

In the two clashes between the sides this season, the Eagles have held the upper hand, although the Bulldogs have been in the contests until late in each game.

With winning finals form under their belt, they will be an even-money bet to go directly into the Grand Final.

“We have no injuries from the North game and Justin Westhoff is available,” Laird said.

“The Eagles have been the form side this season and we have a lot of respect for them, but we are still quietly confident.”

SCORES: Central District 4.1 8.8 15.13 18.16 (124) defeated North Adelaide 2.2 4.6 7.7 13.8 (86).

BEST: Central – Slade, J. Gowans, Wilson, O'Sullivan, Schell, Currie, Switala, McCabe, Thomas; North – Krieg, Gill, Hudson, Schubert, Howard, Younie.

GOALS: Central – Schell 5, L.Westhoff, McCabe 2, Cochrane, J. Gowans, O'Sullivan, Hayes, Wilson, Ware, C. Gowans, Cowan, Sibenaler; North – Gill 4, Alleway, Younie, Howard, Campbell 2, Bamford.