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Central District arrives for finals time

The SANFL finals have arrived and so have Central District.

Despite still lacking composure and their usual fluentness, as they have throughout the season, the Bulldogs recalled on all their finals experience to grab an exciting three- point win over Sturt in the qualifying final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Grand final triumphs aside – and there have been six in the past eight years – this was arguably Central District’s most inspired of victories.

At three-quarter time, the game – and a second semi-final clash with Glenelg – beckoned for the Double Blues when they led by 23 points and well within their grasp.

However, the Bulldogs refused to walk away from the fight and when Elijah Ware nailed a goal with five minutes remaining they had hit the front for the first time.

Sturt on-baller Luke Crane had the chance to regain the lead in the dying seconds but missed his snap on goal.

The Double Blues, with superior ball movement and efficiency, claimed the early ascendancy to take a 16-point buffer into quarter time.

Pacy Daniel Wicks patrolled his wing to gain plenty of the ball, while the defence, led by James MacLeay and Scott McGlone, held sway over a struggling Central attack.

When Brant Chambers bagged his 100th goal for the season and then George Thring kicked truly the margin was 24 points late in the second term.

With Jason Mackenzie and co-captain Paul Thomas responding, the Bulldogs scored the next three goals in time-on to cut the gap to just three points at half-time.

The margin though should have been greater if not for poor discipline from McGlone which resulted in a free kick being reversed when ruckman Simon Feast was lining up for goal just 20m out.

After Sturt again exploded to a handy lead at the final break, the roles were swapped with the Double Blues becoming hesitant and the hunted as the Bulldogs ram home four unanswered goals in the last quarter.

Central District simply proved that they should never be underestimated, especially come finals time, to pinch a 9.13 (67) to Sturt 9.10 (64) victory.

Stephen O’Loughlin/The Advertiser