DOGS WEAR DOWN NORWOOD
By Robert Laidlaw

Round 9, 3/6/2006

There was nothing pretty about Central District's 40-point victory over Norwood last Saturday at Elizabeth, but the win has put the Bulldogs season back on track.

Two moves by coach Roy Laird were pivotal in the victory - switching Richard Cochrane to half back after the Redlegs had kicked four unanswered goals late in the second term, and shifting Luke Cowan to the goal front in the third quarter.

Returning after a long lay-off, Cochrane's experience steadied an under-sieged backline, while Cowan exploded through the third quarter, taking six marks and helping turn a half time deficit into a match-winning
23 point advantage at lemons.

Early it was Norwood which looked the better side, booting the game's first two goals, but then Central got untracked and kicked the next three majors to lead by three points at quarter time.

Paul Scoullar was working hard in ruck, while Matthew Slade and Chad O'Sullivan were controlling the packs. Signs were good, as, although forwards Daniel Schell and Cowan hadn't made an impact, the Dogs were in front.

One aspect of the game which was worrying was the un-forced errors by both sides, and as the second term unwound, first Norwood then Central were guilty of wasting the ball, which resulted in the Dogs kicking three of the first four majors before the Legs booted four straight.

After playing well early, Richard Cochrane had been taken off the field, and when he came on late in the half he not only steadied the backlines but went forward and steered through a goal to close the margin to a manageable four points at the long break.

The standard of the football in the first half was quite low, and if Central wanted to win the match it had to pick up its game and put the score on the board.

Cowan, who had been virtually unsighted at centre half forward, was switched to the goal front and made a huge impact on the game, busting packs and taking six good marks, which gave the Dogs a good focus up front.

All of a sudden Central was going more direct and reaping the benefits, but a little wayward kicking kept Norwood in the contest. From nine shots the Dogs managed four majors, Scott Dutschke's clever evasive manoeuvre and snap at the 25 minute mark realising the goal of the game.

At the final break the Bulldogs led by 23 points, and although Norwood kicked the first major of the last stanza, Central was playing too well, and outscored the Redlegs to run out comfortable 40-point victors.

For a four-quarter effort, on-baller Matty Slade was best, closely followed by fellow ball-getters Chad O'Sullivan and Elijah Ware, while Jason Mackenzie came off the bench to dominate the second half, and play almost as important a role as Cowan in the side's resurgence.

Both Richard Cochrane and Adam Switala were injured against Port Adelaide in round two, and are recent returnees, with both playing solid football, it would have done their confidence a world of good.

Several youngsters can take a lot out of the game with the experience. Chris Musolino struggled early, but came back with more determination when reintroduced into the game at halfback.

Chad Norsworthy ran with state captain Scott Borlace and restricted the clever playmaker, while Dutschke and the Westhoff boys, Leigh and Justin, had important touches when the game was on the line.

This week Central take on Sturt at Unley Oval, a venue the Dogs haven't lost at since 1985. With the Blues pulling off an upset one-point victory over Glenelg on Saturday, they will have their tails in the air, but this is too big a match for the Bulldogs to lose.

Scores: Central District 16.17 (113) d Norwood 11-7 (73)
Best: Slade, O'Sullivan, Mackenzie, Ware, R. Cochrane, Switala, Wilson, Scoullar.
Goals: Ware 3, Wilson 2, O'Sullivan 2, J. Westhoff 2, Cowan 2, Slade, R.
Cochrane, Dutschke, Switala, Schell.