WINNING UGLY
By Robert Laidlaw
Round 8, 17/5/2008
With an uninspiring effort, Central District triumphed by 33 points against winless West Adelaide at Richmond Oval on Saturday, in a game more notable for errors than sparkling play.
As reigning premiers, the Bulldogs should have given a better account of themselves to supporters, while the nature of the 'David versus Goliath' match-up was never going to live up to expectations.
One positive from the game was it was Central's first victory with the predominant white 'away' guernsey, with the reserves losing to go 0-3, before the league squad managed to hold the wooden-spooners of the past three seasons at bay.
If the Dogs had played any other side on the day, they probably would have lost on that performance! But, it may have been the West tactic of covering its errors with a flood of defensive measures, which forced Central into a frustrating style of football.
Failing to exceed 100 points for the fourth consecutive game, the Bulldogs are relying on its 'tough as nails' defence, and are definitely missing the likes of goal-kicking threats Chris Gowans and Ian Callinan.
The way the game opened on Saturday, with Central kicking four un-answered goals through the first 17 minutes, it looked like a Bulldog victory by 'how far.' But then the rot set in, and a confusing two 'corridor' attack by West, with numbers falling back, quelled the free-scoring.
Two late majors by West saw the advantage hauled back to just 12 points at the first break. Luke McCabe was the catalyst for most of Central's forward thrusts, while Chad O'Sullivan, Leigh Westhoff and Ryan Williams were prominent.
Indicative of what was to come, the first half of the second term was some of the worst football seen in a Central league game for a long while, as both sides seemed to try to outmatch the other in dropped marks and kicking to opposition players.
Eventually Luke Cowan benefited from a good McCabe sheppard to post the first goal of the period at the 17 minute mark, then just on 60 seconds later Trent Goodrem snapped a major out of a pack from 30m for the goal of the game.
Unfortunately that was it for the first half, as the Bulldogs went into the long break with a 6.4 to 2.2 lead. It proved a wasteful period for Central, as it had enough of the ball to kick 12 goals, but just could not penetrate a desperate, if untidy, West defensive unit.
Two free kicks gifted West two majors in the third term, its only scores of the period, while the Dogs only managed three goals from seven scoring opportunities, and at three-quarter time the visitors led 9.8 to 4.2.
The game was set-up for Central to steamroll over the Bloods, but West actually outscored the Dogs in the final stanza by three points, to finish a not very memorable day for the reigning premiers.
In a low scoring game, McCabe stood out, as he set up four goals and had a hand in another, to be the Dogs best. The backline supplied a host of good performers, with the rebound of Adam Switala, Richard Cochrane and Andrew Hayes important in starving off a shock loss.
Gawler Central's Brayden O'Hara made his league debut for the Bulldogs on Saturday and after a slow start acquitted himself well, finishing with 13 possessions from the wing.
Another Bulldog debut with a difference was 2007 premiership player Alan Obst playing his first AFL game with North Melbourne on Saturday, but after picking up two possessions in the first quarter, was forced off with what proved a punctured lung.
This week Central District travel to Alberton to take on Port Adelaide before a week off for the state game. Although yet to put in a solid four-quarter performance this season, the Dogs have won five of seven games, and can cement their place in the top three with a victory.
Central District 4.1 6.4 9.8 12.8 (80 pts.)
West Adelaide 2.1 2.2 4.2 7.5 (47 pts.)
Best: McCabe, Switala, Cochrane, Hayes, Schell, J. Gowans, Williams.
Goals: Williams 2, Cowan 2, Goodrem 2, Schell 2, Dutschke, Havelberg, Westhoff, Slade.
Round 8 Weekly Award Winners
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