SANFL 2006 QUALIFYING
FINAL: CENTRAL DISTRICT v NORTH ADELAIDE
Injuries `no excuse’
By ROBERT LAIDLAW
Rooster coach Andrew Jarman said he would
take 21 fit men into the Central game after suffering from using underdone
players in past finals, which meant Chris Ladhams,
who turned an ankle at training, joined Daniel Hargraves, Luke Ivens and Steven Koops on the
sidelines.
“There are no excuses, we played our best 21 fit players,” Jarman said.
“There was no bad luck, Central was fantastic, we just have to step up
to the finals pressure like the Bulldogs do.
“I thought there was a good contest in ruck, which was even on the day.
“Hudo [Ben Hudson] is a quality bloke, but full
credit to Paul Scoullar, who was down last time we
played but he came back strongly.”
Even though the ruck contest was an arm-wrestle,
the Bulldogs pressure and efficiency around the packs saw them dominant and
create more opportunities, which made it tough on North's defenders.
When the Roosters went forward, Nick Gill was working overtime, and
booted the Roosters first three majors, but he had insufficient assistance when
it counted and it was only late in the game when others offered better scoring
options.
Although Central's onballers won the 50-50
contests, Matt Krieg gave plenty of resistance, and
was North's best, as his possession and tackle count were high, but like Gill,
he did not have enough help when it counted.
Shane Schubert worked hard in defence and had Luke Cowan's measure in
the first half, while Dean Howard and Heath Younie
had their moments.
A surprise inclusion was first-gamer Josh Cubillo,
who played for
He is a promising talent and demonstrated plenty of poise in the
pressure-cooker situation of finals footy.
This week North will be boosted with the inclusion of Ladhams, Hargraves, Ivens and Koops, but will still have to be at its best if it is to
hold off the barnstorming Panthers, who are on a high after beating Port
Adelaide in the elimination final.
“It's a new ball game this week and I'll find 21 fit men to take the
field,” Jarman said.
“We have to apply plenty of pressure. The Panthers are energetic and
have a lot of enthusiasm after beating Port, so we have to be prepared.”
This week North will be boosted with the inclusion of Ladhams, Hargraves, Ivens and Koops, but will still have to be at its best if it is to
hold off the barnstorming Panthers, who are on a high after beating Port
Adelaide in the elimination final.
North has lost the past two first semi-finals and its past five
semi-finals. The Roosters' last success was against South in 1990 when it
booted a record high score for first semis.
Shane Schubert worked hard in defence and had Luke Cowan's measure in
the first half, while Dean Howard and Heath Younie
had their moments.
A surprise inclusion was first-gamer Josh Cubillo,
who played for
He is a promising talent and demonstrated plenty of poise in the
pressure-cooker situation of finals footy.
“It's a new ball game this week and I'll find 21 fit men to take the
field,” Jarman said.
“We have to apply plenty of pressure. The Panthers are energetic and
have a lot of enthusiasm after beating Port, so we have to be prepared.”
SCORES: Central District 4.1 8.8 15.13
18.16 (124) defeated
BEST: Central – Slade, J. Gowans,
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.