SANFL ROUND 13: CENTRAL DISTRICT v WEST ADELAIDE

Bloods well on their way

By STEVE BARRETT

THE rebuilding process at West Adelaide is headed in the right direction if the Bloods' valiant display against Central District at Elizabeth on Saturday is anything to go by.

It was an honourable loss for West, the likes of which should fill the playing group with plenty of heart and give the club something tangible to build on.

The Bloods had more of the play early at a taxing and rain-immersed Hamra Homes Oval and looked the more dangerous side, but they were unable to capitalise in a first quarter clanger-fest.

Ben Haynes converted the game's opening goal four minutes into the second term then followed with another less than five minutes later, a Peter Daicos-like effort from the left-forward pocket, to give West a 17-point advantage. Central, finally playing with system and skill, converted its first major 12 minutes into the second term, the first of four unanswered majors, giving the Dogs a six-point half-time lead.

A 21-point three quarter time lead was enough for Central, but only just, as the Bloods, spirited to the end, charged at Central in the final stanza.

Talented goal-sneak Haynes, industrious and skilful in the wet, virtually ran a one-man show and single-handedly 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 and collecting 68 fewer possessions than West overall.

The skilful display of Haynes almost proved the game-breaker. The former Richmond and Essendon utility gave Central's defenders the run-around all afternoon on his way to game-high tallies of 25 kicks (plus eight handballs), nine marks and four goals. He received solid support upfield from Port Adelaide Power-listed pair James Ezard and Peter Walsh.

SCORES: Central District 0.2-2 4.2-26 7.6-48 7.8-50 defeated West Adelaide 0.5-5 2.8-20 3.9-27 5.12-42.

BEST: Central - Slade, Schell, Westhoff, Gowans, McCabe, Mackenzie; West - Slattery, Haynes, Ezard, Walsh, Jericho, Glover.

GOALS: Central - Slade 2, McCabe, Graham, Schell, Stengle, O'Sullivan; West - Haynes 4, Dragicevic.