Australian Football

Match Report

Now it's onto the Good Friday football-fest, starting with the now seemingly traditional pre-Easter northern derby between the Roosters and the Bulldogs at Prospect Oval. The Dogs took out both matches last season, starting with the corresponding match in Round 2 at Elizabeth by 27 points, then the return match at Menzies Crescent by two points in Round 17. That later match was an all out tussle for the ages, the deficit at the changes never exceeding a single straight kick. It took until the dying moments of the game for the Dogs to steal the points, kicking the only goal of the final quarter deep into added time. The Roosters would finish last season in sixth place, only one spot above their 2022 conquerors. The Bulldogs on the other hand would feature in their first finals series for six seasons after ending the minor round in fourth place. The terraces would look a picture, with a shade under 3300 turning up despite needing the sunblock and a few bottles of water in the cooler. The Bulldogs controlled the early half of the opening term, but a couple of late goals to the Roosters put them back within strike going into the first change. A late chance to the Dogs to lead by double digits would go astray, a five-point gap separating the two with the board reading 3.2 to 2.3. Centrals again re-established some dominance in the second term, though they did waste a couple of prime chances in front of goal. The Roosters' managed a late goal to keep the gap within three straight kicks, though three minors during the course of that term to the Dogs' 3.3 saw them down by 17 points at the end of the half. When play resumed for the second half, the Roosters began the term seemingly with a renewed vigour as they snatched the lead just 12 minutes in with their 3.1. They then fought over the lead for the ensuing 10 minutes until a couple of extra time goals by Centrals put them back in the lead. One last major to North brought the visitors' lead down to 10 points going into the final change. The Roosters started the final term with 1.2 in the first eight minutes, but then it was all Centrals as they ran over the top of the home side with 4.2 to one behind, finishing the day with a 27-point victory. VFL import Wilson Barry had a debut to remember, named best for Centrals with his 24 disposals and six clearances, while the Roosters voted in Harrison Wigg as their best with 30 disposals and 13 marks.