BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR CENTRAL
By Robert Laidlaw

Round 11, 17/6/2006

Central District continued its push up the premiership table with a workman-like victory over early-season pacemakers Port Adelaide in the SANFL, claiming a 34 point victory at Elizabeth last Saturday.

The secret to the Bulldogs' success was the even performance from the side, as the forward structure worried Port and the defence was resolute, complimenting the on-ball efforts of a tough and uncompromising unit.

With three talls up front in Daniel Schell, Luke Cowan and Justin Westhoff, Central stretched the Magpies defence, and allowed the Dogs hard-working on-ballers to run through and put on scoreboard pressure.

Both Gowans twins, Chris and James played their combined best football of the year, Chad O'Sullivan and Matthew Slade continued their tremendous recent form, and captain Paul Thomas put his body on the line, enabling the Bulldogs to control the game throughout around the packs.

The first quarter was an arm-wrestle, and although Central was generating a lot of drive around the middle, it wasn't until Slade booted his second goal on the siren when the Dogs broke the shackles to lead by six points at the break.

Port was playing good football, but Central was up to the challenge, and half way through the second term both sides had scored two majors.

At the 15 minute mark Slade booted his fourth goal, and after two Magpie misses, Scott Dutschke kicked truly late to help the Dogs to a 15 point advantage at half time.

For the first 15 minutes of the third quarter, the Bulldogs attacked incessantly, adding 3.4 to a point to set up the win.

The highlight of the period was when James Gowans passed to Schell, received the ball back, and delivered to Slade, who played on and kicked the goal of the game.

Port made a mini comeback with two majors, punctuated by a brawl in the north-western forward pocket which held up play for a few minutes, and was indicative of two tough teams looking to assert their authority.

Schell took a screamer 50m out, and his kick was marked and converted on the goal-line by Justin Westhoff. But Port immediately replied.

Central had the last laugh though, when Luke McCabe cleverly hooked a ball to the goal-front, where O'Sullivan marked and kicked truly after the siren to signal three-quarter time, to give the Dogs a 30 point advantage.

The last term was goal for goal, the Bulldogs also adding four behinds to increase the final margin to 34 points.

Slade kicked a personal best of five goals, while James Gowans chipped in for four, taking advantage of the close attention Central's talls were receiving up front.

While all players contributed to the victory, two defenders who are worthy of a mention are Quinton Graham, playing his best game of the season, and Andrew Hayes, who came off the bench in his first league game to fit into the structure without missing a beat.

This week Central District travel to Glenelg to take on the Tigers, a side which walloped the Bulldogs by 95 points at Adelaide Oval in round three. The game should be a lot closer this time, and with a different victor.

Scores: Central District 17.13 (115) d Port Adelaide 12-9 (81)
Best: Slade, C. Gowans, O'Sullivan, J. Gowans, Wilson, Thomas, Scoullar, L. Westhoff, S. Cochrane, Graham.
Goals: Slade 5, J. Gowans 4, J. Westhoff 2, Dutschke, Mackenzie, O'Sullivan, Wilson, L. Westhoff, Schell.