WOUNDED DOGS GO DOWN
By Robert Laidlaw

Round 2, 8/4/2006

Central District lost its first game since round 10, 2005, after 15 consecutive victories, going down by 44 points to Port Adelaide Magpies at Alberton Oval last Saturday.

With numerous players already missing the previous week, star key forward Daniel Schell pulled out before this game, as did fellow big marking forward Luke Cowan.

To compound the Bulldogs problems, Adam Switala left the field early with a depressed cheekbone fracture, and Richard Cochrane sustained a hamstring strain, while Luke McCabe was ineffectual, as he also looked to be under an injury cloud.

Still, Central managed to stay within touch until the Magpies kicked the first goal in the last term to stretch its lead to 33 points.

Early in the first quarter Port attack incessantly, but from five scoring shots only managed one goal in the game's first 12 minutes. Another major two minutes later saw the Magpies lead by 16 points going into time on, before Matthew Slade kicked the Bulldogs first goal.

The Magpies quickly responded, but two late majors saw Central only trail by four points at the first break. Too many Bulldogs had failed to make an impact, although first gamer Chad Norsworthy, and youngsters Leigh Westhoff and Adrian Wilson had been conspicuous.

A similar story to the first quarter developed in the second term, as Port bombed the ball forward, where it's strong marking goalkickers were proving a handful for Central's defenders, and the Magpies booted the first three majors.

Stung into action, the Dogs put together some magic football, as Slade won the ball out of centre, and through a series of handballs to Westhoff and Chris Gowans, James Gowans received the ball and slotted the goal of the game to stem the flow.

But Port immediately replied, with Quinton Graham then kicking the final goal of the term at the 18 minute mark, with only one behind by Port kicked in the first halves final 10 minutes, Central trailing 5-1 to 7-8 at the long break.

A scrappy third quarter saw the Magpies add 2-5 to the Dogs 1-3 and the game looked almost gone, as Port led by 27 points at lemons, and when it kicked the first goal of the last term, the result was put beyond doubt.

On booting the first goal of the second half, Central's scoreline was 6-1, but over the remainder of the game, the Dogs managed only 2-8 in an inaccurate effort which kept them out of the contest.

Many times through the game Central continually chose to bomb the ball into its forward area, as Port was doing successfully, but without Schell or Cowan up front to pull down a big mark, this ploy proved fruitless, and allowed the Magpies backmen to dominate.

After former South Gawler boy Alan Obst made his league debut against Sturt in round one, another former Lions player, Chad Norsworthy played his first league game for Central, as the Dogs influx of young players is allowing the club to build depth while some experience players recover on the sidelines.

Westhoff and Wilson both were solid four-quarter contributors, while backman Jeremy Aufderheide wore the brunt of Port's easy movement into its forward area, and stood up manfully.

This Saturday the Dogs have a big game against Glenelg at Adelaide Oval from 12.15pm in a scheduled double-header, and will be keen to return to the winners list. Schell is probably still a fortnight away, while Cowan should be fit to take his spot.

Scores: Port Adelaide 14-17 (101) d Central District 8.9 (57)
Best: Westhoff, Wilson, Aufderheide, Thomas, Symes, Slade, O'Sullivan.
Goals: Slade 2, C. Gowans 2, Wilson, J. Gowans, Graham, Dutschke.