BEWARE OF COMPLACENCY
By Robert Laidlaw

Round 4, 25/4/2007

Central District Bulldogs looked awesome in last Wednesday's Anzac Day 82-point demolition of the Eagles at Thebarton Oval, but it is still early days, and the club must beware of complacency.

Of the Bulldogs' past seven grand final appearances, the one year the club looked a monty to win the premiership was in 2002, when it appeared unstoppable, but fell to Sturt in the big game.

With the way Central has opened this season, the main issue to address is not to get too far ahead of itself, although the manner in which the side is performing, there looks little chance of it happening.

The last time the Bulldogs played at Thebarton Oval was the final minor round game of 1988 against West Torrens, which resulted in a 50 point victory. Last week's score was Central's second highest at the ground, while the margin was the greatest.

Opening with a full-on attack, Central District wasted numerous scoring opportunities in the first term against the Eagles, but led
3-7 to 3-0 at quarter time. After conceding the first two majors, it was Chris Gowans clever side-step goal which opened the visitor's account.

Both sides were playing with the vigour and hardness supporters have become accustomed to when these great rivals clash, but there were good signs with how the Bulldogs were winning the ball out of the middle.

Up to the time on period of the second term a similar trend continued, as the Eagles scored three goals to Central's two, but then three majors in three minutes put the Dogs in control, as they led 8-9 to 6-0 at the long break.

Central's dominance started from the centre square, where the likes of the Gowans twins, Chris and James, Ian Callinan, Charles Slattery, Scott Dutschke and Matthew Slade were supplying plenty of drive, and forward Luke Cowan was looming as an unstoppable threat.

The writing was on the wall in the latter stages of the first half, and through the third term the Dogs hammered home its on-field advantage, with scoreboard pressure, booting eight straight goals before a final behind, while the Eagles continued their accuracy with three majors.

With a 16-10 to 9-0 scoreline at the final break, Central had compete control of the game. After the reigning premiers kicked its 10th consecutive goal without a miss to open the last term, the Dogs unleashed a powerful burst to finish overwhelming 82 point victors.

A highlight of the last quarter avalanche was a gem kicked by Ian Callinan, who swung onto his right boot and snapped the goal of the game from 40m out.

There were so many good players for Central, it was hard to sort out best a field honours. In the end Chris Gowans was awarded the Bob Quinn Medal, with his red-hot tackling a feature.

Recruits Callinan and Slattery were also right up there, as was James Gowans, while there were also many willing helpers.

Strong marking Luke Cowan gave a masterful display up front, and is starting to hit his straps, which is a bonus, as it allows in-form backman Daniel Schell to hold down centre half back.

A special mention to Scott Dutschke, who's in-and-under style is earning him a berth in the mid-field rotation, as his courageous attack on the ball highlights the work-ethic of the 2007 brand Bulldogs.

This Saturday Central District takes on Glenelg in an important match at Elizabeth. The Bulldogs will be turned out in a heritage guernsey to honour the 1980s, which was the famous white top with blue and red stripes.

It will be good to see Adrian Wilson in the same number 20 white guernsey his dad made so famous!

Central District 23-13 (151) d Eagles 11-3 (69)
Best: C. Gowans, Callinan, J. Gowans, Slattery, Dutschke, Cowan, Schell, Ware, Wilson.
Goals: Callinan 5, Cowan 4, Ware 3, C. Gowans 2, Slade 2, J. Gowans 2, Switala, Slattery, Lawry, Goodrem, L. Westhoff.

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