Central District Football Club

2012 Round 14 Centrals vs Eagles

2012 Round 14 Centrals vs Eagles

RECORD WIN AGAINST EAGLES

By Robert Laidlaw

In 2004 Central District recorded the biggest SANFL grand final thrashing ever when it beat Woodville West Torrens by 125 points, the Eagles score of 4-4 the lowest against the Dogs in any match.

Then in the final minor round game of 2010, to earn the minor premiership, Central kicked 7-8 to Glenelg's 3-7 – the new lowest mark against the Bulldogs.

On Saturday at Elizabeth the Eagles equalled the low-mark, booting just 3-7 to a magnificent Central District, which won every quarter to kick 16-8.

The first term was error-ridden, as both sides struggled for ascendancy, the Dogs managing 2-4 to no score by the Eagles, which probably set up the win.

A four-goal-to-nil second term saw the game all but over at half time, with Central leading 6-5 to 0-3 – an amazing scoreline when the traditional closeness of games between these side in recent years in taken into consideration.

Brad Symes, James Boyd (two goals) and Ryan Williams have been in form and again led the way through the first half, with plenty of help from the likes of Kyle Jenner, Paul Thomas and Trent Goodrem.

It only took around 30 seconds of the second half for the Bulldogs to kick another goal, through Justin Hardy, with a soccer effort after a goalsquare scramble.

Then at the 14 minute mark of the third quarter the Eagles finally broke through for their first goal, although it was after a mis-directed defensive pass by Central!

But the reply was special, when Ryan Williams virtually 'got off the canvas' to snap a brilliant goal of the game over his shoulder.

Before lemons the Eagles had scored another goal, while the Dogs added two more, to lead 10-7 to 2-4 – could the record lowest score against Central be broken?

It looked unlikely after the visitors scored two quick points to start the last quarter and managed a goal seven minutes in, but they only added one more behind the rest of the way to equal the record, while the Bulldogs kicked six straight majors before a final point.

The final term featured a pair of goals from James Lawton (four for the game) and Scott Dutschke, while Williams scored his third, and Chad O'Sullivan nailed his first major of the season.

There were numerous good signs for the Central, with Jack Hannath standing tall in ruck, Kyle Jenner playing his best game of the season, and, Trent Goodrem celebrated his 100th game in style.

After next Sunday's game, the Bulldogs will know if they are playing for the minor premiership or the double chance leading into the finals, as it meets top team Norwood at the Parade.

Over the past four seasons there has been no more than a kick separating the teams at this venue (five games), and with the minor premiership the probable prize for victory, a titanic battle is likely.

Central District            2.4            6.5            10.7            16.8            (104)

Eagles                       0.0            0.3            2.4            3.7            (25)

Best: Jenner, Symes, Williams, Boyd, Hannath, Thomas, Goodrem, Sansbury, C. Gowans.

Goals: Lawton 4, Boyd 3, Williams 3, Hardy 2, Dutschke 2, O'Sullivan, C. Gowans.