BACK TO THE 70s AND BACK TO WINNING
By Robert Laidlaw

Round 17, 29/7/2006

Central District Bulldogs not only celebrated the 1970s with the famous V guernseys at Elizabeth last Saturday against South Adelaide Panthers, they returned to the winners' list with a comprehensive 43 point advantage, a scintillating seven goal second term setting up the victory.

With two close losses and a bye over the previous three weeks, the Dogs were under pressure to get back into form to set up a charge for the finals, and although not altogether convincing over the four quarters, the effort has laid a solid foundation for future weeks.

A key to Central's success was in matching South's quicks around the packs, while shutting down the Panthers vaunted firepower up front, restricted their scoring.

On-ballers Chad O'Sullivan, Adam Switala, Matty Slade, Elijah Ware and the Gowans twins, James and Chris, all worked extremely hard throughout the game, and were responsible for giving the Dogs momentum.

The returning Richard Cochrane managed to marshal the dangerous Davey from half back, while Yves Sibenaler and Brad Currie shut down South's twin goal-kicking machines, Warren and Cupido.

In the first quarter the Panthers came out hard and seemed to have all the early momentum, but some untidy finishing saw them only leading 1.3 to 0.1 at the 15 minute mark.

Some good work by Paul Thomas set Luke McCabe up for the Dogs' first major, then a purple patch from Luke Cowan resulted in two goals and a five point lead at the first break.

Cowan took a good mark and converted, then after receiving a pass from Switala, strained his abductor, but had the foresight to handball back to Switala who found Daniel Schell for the goal.

The effort by Central in the second half of the first term was continued through the second stanza, as Chad O'Sullivan came alive with four goals, with the avalanche helping the Bulldogs to a match-winning 43 point lead at half time.

Besides O'Sullivan's four majors, Leigh Westhoff snapped the goal of the game from a pack, Slade booted a long bomb after a clever sidestep, and McCabe finished off a goal-square scramble.

Within the first 20 seconds of the second half, South had posted its fourth goal, but a quick answer from Adrian Wilson, after some twin Gowans magic, set the tone of the third quarter - whenever the Panthers threatened, Central had the answers.

Two long bombs from Leigh Westhoff and Jon Griffin were highlights, and at the final change the Dogs led by 50 points, with a 10 goal victory and 20 goal game well within reach.

In the first half of the final term Central looked likely to achieve both targets, after a pair of Schell goals and Wilson's second saw the Dogs lead 18.8 to 8.7, but South kicked four of the game's final five majors.

While the Bulldogs on-ball brigade led the way, Jason Mackenzie continued to play well in a defensive role, Wilson had a run up forward and looked good, Griffin was solid in ruck, Justin Westhoff's second efforts were tremendous, and brother Leigh played his best game in a month.

This week Central has a must-win game against the lowly Sturt at Adelaide Oval. With the first three weeks of the finals at the ground, this will be the Dogs final hitout of the minor round at the venue.

Scores: Central District 19.9 (123) d South Adelaide 12.8 (80)
Best: O'Sullivan, J. Gowans, C. Gowans, Slade, Switala, Mackenzie, Wilson, Ware.
Goals: Schell 4, O'Sullivan 4, McCabe 2, Slade 2, L. Westhoff 2, Wilson 2, Cowan, Griffin, J. Westhoff.