BULLDOGS OUTLAST WILLING OPPONENT
By Robert Laidlaw

Round 17, 28/7/2007

Central District Bulldogs fought hard for the points against Port Adelaide Magpies, triumphing by 13 points at Alberton Oval on Saturday, in a tough SANFL game against a worthy opponent.

Fighting for a spot in the finals, Port Adelaide threw everything at the Dogs, closing to within a goal half way through the final quarter before Central sealed the victory.

It was the type of game coach Roy Laird would have been looking for, to test his charges, and the boys in red, white and blue managed to secure Central's 11th win at Alberton since 1964.

Recently starting a heavier training load in preparation for the finals, the Bulldogs may have been a little leg-weary, but fought the game out well, which will be an important building block to success later in the season.

Central had the first two goals of the game in the first five minutes, through Heath Lawry and James Gowans, but then the Magpies controlled proceedings for the next 20 minutes, booting four majors to lead by 11 points, Chad O'Sullivan pulling one back before the first break.

The Bulldogs regained the lead within a minute of the second quarter starting through Chris Gowans, but Port hit back immediately.

After a period of see-sawing, a long kick from Nathan Grima into the goalsquare resulted in Lawry converting, then some great work from Daniel Havelberg, where he courageously won the ball in a nest of Magpies and laid a handball off to O'Sullivan, saw another goal.

Port closed the margin to a point at the 11 minute mark with a major, but Ian Callinan coolly kicked his first of the game. The Magpies then wasted opportunities with four straight behinds, leaving Central four points ahead at the long break.

With the first goal of the third term Port again hit the front, the fifth lead change of the game.

Then the Bulldog machine hit top stride, Matthew Slade restoring order with a goal, and two majors in a minute half way through the period the catalyst of the win.

First O'Sullivan snapped a ball towards goal from 40m out, which took a leg break for the goal of the game, then Elijah Ware worked hard through traffic and laid a perfect handball to Louis Hadden for the other.

Callinan added his second just into time on, and when Slade kicked a goal after some good work by Chris Gowans, the Dogs were cruising, although Port managed the final major of the term.

A key in the third quarter was the pace of Ware and Hadden on the wings, as both had scintillating terms, which worried the home side and was a major factor in setting up the victory.

Full of confidence, Central opened the final stanza well with Lawry kicking his third goal of the game, but then the Magpies charged back into contention with 3-2 in 10 minutes, closing the gap to just six points.

Restructuring its pattern of play, the Bulldogs switched and poked short passes to shift the momentum, which ended with first a behind to Jason Mackenzie for some breathing space, and then a well-read off-hands gather from Chris Gowans, who ran in for a goal to seal the result.

The on-ball work of Callinan, O'Sullivan and the Gowans twins supplied most of the drive out of the middle, while Brad Symes, especially in the second half, shone out with his work a kick behind the play.

Yves Sibenaler was back to his best at full back, playing a perfect role for three quarters, before a different match-up in the final term gave him some problems.

This Saturday the Bulldogs return home to face their conquerors in last season's grand final, Woodville West Torrens. A victory will make it tough for the Eagles to grab the double chance.

Central District 14-7 (91) d Port Adelaide 11-12 (78)
Best: Callinan, O'Sullivan, J. Gowans, Symes, C. Gowans, Sibenaler, Slattery, Cochrane.
Goals: Lawry 3, O'Sullivan 3, C. Gowans 2, Callinan 2, Slade 2, J. Gowans, Hadden.

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