BULLDOGS KEEP ON KEEPING ON
By Robert Laidlaw
Round 8, 26/5/2007
Central District Bulldogs broke the club record for consecutive wins to open a season when it defeated North Adelaide Roosters at Prospect Oval by 35 points last Saturday, for seven in a row.
The victory kept the club's undefeated run since 1997 at Prospect alive, and has evened the all time ledger between the teams at the ground to 20-20 with two draws. Overall, the Bulldogs have won 24 of the past 26 games against North since last losing at Prospect.
Mooted as a premiership threat this season, North Adelaide lived up to those expectations until an unanswered nine goal haul from 10 minutes into the third term, when trailing by 19 points, Central exploded to make its mark on the game.
A dour first quarter saw only one goal, Daniel Havelberg's first in league football, as the Bulldogs took a 1-1 to 0-1 lead at the first change. On the small ground the defences were on top, and in perhaps a record low period, the siren sounded just after the 23 minute mark.
North was on top in ruck, and seemed to be more efficient working forward, but a resolute back six for the Dogs kept it out, although the Roosters did miss a couple of set shots.
Seven minutes into the second term North had its first major of the game, and a minute later had its second to grab the lead. Elijah Ware received a clever pass from Brad Symes mid-term to level the scores.
With a pair of majors over the following 10 minutes, as the game continued to be an arm wrestle, North looked good, but Ian Callinan took a handball off Ware and bombed a late major to reduce the margin to seven points at half time.
The Roosters started the second half with plenty of aggression, and in the first five minutes had posted two goals to increase their advantage to 19 points, and were looking strong. Justin Westhoff stood up to boot a major for Central, but North quickly replied.
A few coaching moves then seemed to spark the Bulldogs, the two most crucial saw Westhoff into ruck and Ware roam loose in the forward 50m, as all of a sudden Central turned the game on its ear.
Westhoff started the ball rolling with a goal at the 11 minute mark, then after a pair of behinds, a clever Charles Slattery handball to James Gowans ended up with a set-shot major to Ware. Callinan gathered a contested ball and snapped truly, to see the scores tied up at the 23 minute mark.
But the damage had not been completed, as Havelberg put the Dogs in front with a goal, Ware booted a major from 45m, then on the run Slattery bombed the goal of the game from outside 50m, and Central was 18 points up at three-quarter time.
A couple of great snaps from Callinan and Chad O'Sullivan opened the final quarter with two goals, then when Havelberg booted his third major, and the Dogs ninth in a row, the margin had blown out to 34 points.
North made a bit of a comeback with the next three goals, but Central finished all over the Roosters with the final three majors to run out convincing victors.
Brad Symes played another fine game for the Dogs, and no doubt will continue his roller-coaster AFL ride with a possible inclusion in the Power this week. Elijah Ware played his best game of the season in a fine display all over the ground, while defenders Richard Cochrane and Daniel Schell were the pick of a fine back six.
Rookie Havelberg looked an experience campaigner in the forward area, while Westhoff continues to show his value to the side, which may also force the Power to consider his AFL debut sooner rather than later.
This Saturday Central travel to Berri for a clash with the dangerous West Adelaide. Only a committed four-quarter performance can avoid a shock defeat, as the Bloods have taken it up to most sides this season, including knocking off reigning premier Woodville-West Torrens.
Central District 16-7 (103) d North Adelaide 10-8 (68)
Best: Symes, Ware, Wilson, Cochrane, Slattery, Schell, Westhoff.
Goals: Callinan 4, Havelberg 3, Ware 3, J. Westhoff 3, Slattery, O'Sullivan, Lawry.
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