DOGS HOLD OFF TENACIOUS TIGERS
By Robert Laidlaw

Round 14, 8/7/2007

Central District Bulldogs held on for a 16 point victory against Glenelg Tigers at the Bay on Sunday, their 12th win from 13 games in 2007, which as expected, guarantees September action.

Last season the Dogs had its worst season since 1999, winning 12 games to finish third at the end of the minor round. This year Central still has seven more games left and has already equalled that effort.

Coming off the previous week's record performance against Norwood, Central was always going to struggle to reach supporters' high expectations, but the first quarter looked remarkably similar.

Scott Dutschke received a handball from Chris Gowans and posted the Dogs first major six minutes in, then Paul Thomas worked hard to force a ball through to Elijah Ware, and a long bomb from outside 50m brought up number two soon after.

Continuing the push, Matthew Slade slipped a handball to an unchecked Daniel Havelberg at the 11 minute mark and Central was looking ominous.

Slade booted number four at the 16 minute mark, then a great snap from a stoppage gave Ian Callinan his first, quickly followed by Thomas' left foot snap, which was to be the goal of the game.

Leading 6-1 to 0-2 entering time on, the Bulldog juggernaut was brought a little back to earth by Glenelg's first major, but Callinan had the answer a minute later, and Central led 7-1 to 1-4 at quarter time.

While Central had the aid of a handy breeze, its work-rate ensured scoreboard pressure was applied. Now it was up to the defenders to protect the advantage in the second term.

Glenelg struggled to make an impression early, but two goals in the first 10 minutes of the season quarter added a bit of life to the contest. Jason Mackenzie took a good mark against the flow of play and converted for the Dogs to pull one back.

A concentrated effort by the Tigers saw them dominate the next 15 minutes, but only add 2-4, while just on the half time siren Callinan kicked his third major for Central to lead 9-2 to 5-8.

The first 10 minutes of the third term was even, with both sides registering a major, but then a run of three goals in six minutes, from Brad Symes, Heath Lawry and Ware, gave the Dogs a handy 38 point advantage by lemons.

It seemed all Central had to do was play accountable footy in the last term to cruise to victory, but a lack of discipline saw things go against the Dogs, and Glenelg kicked four consecutive goals to close within 13 points at the 17 minute mark.

With every player on the field from both sides on the Glenelg side of centre, some quick movement out of defence saw the ball forced forward for Lawry to kick a goal against the run of play to all but finish a tenacious opposition off, although the Tigers had the final three scoring shots - all points.

Captain Paul Thomas has been in similar form to his 2004 Magarey Medal winning year, and led from the front again to be the Bulldogs'
best. Ian Callinan, who would be one of this year's Magarey favourites, had another sparkling game, while Daniel Schell again was a rock at centre half back.

Matthew Slade, Jason Mackenzie and Brad Symes were the best of the rest, while most players had good patches through the game.

This week Central shouldn't have too much trouble at home against bottom side West Adelaide, and should use it as a hard hit out, with a bye the following week.

Central District 14-5 (89) d Glenelg 10-13 (73)
Best: Thomas, Callinan, Schell, Slade, Mackenzie, Symes.
Goals: Callinan 3, Ware 2, Lawry 2, Dutschke, Havelberg, Slade, Thomas, Mackenzie, J. Gowans, Symes.

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