Australian Football

Match Report

Next up we head out to the outer northern suburbs and into the X-Convenience Oval in Elizabeth for the Northern Derby between the Bulldogs and the Roosters. It was back on Good Friday in the opening round at Prospect, the Dogs taking the victory by 27 points. It was quite a battle for three quarters, the gap at the breaks never exceeding more than three straight kicks. But then the Bulldogs kicked four goals to one in the last quarter to run out winners in the start of their initial streak of victories. Of course that patch of fine form didn't last, with the Bulldogs going on and off the boil ever since with last week's loss to Norwood seemingly showing that they have trouble hanging with the top sides. The Roosters haven't had as much luck themselves though, still outside the five by a game after dropping points to the Crows at Menzies Crescent. There was a breeze that would make life difficult for most of the day, fluctuating toward the north-east and across the ground at times. It would result in a scrappy contest early on, the Roosters getting the better of the possession later in the opening quarter, kicking 2.2 to the Dogs' 1.1 to lead by seven points at quarter-time. North took that lead out to 15 points early into added time in the second quarter, scoring another 2.2 to Centrals' single goal. The Bulldogs would bring that gap down to two points by the half-time siren after kicking 2.1 during time-on, that single missed chance came with the last kick of the half hitting the post. The Roosters looked to have turned a corner in their quest to unseat the Eagles from their fifth spot, they dominated the third quarter to restrict the home side to just one goal, however they bracketed their three goals with four behinds. A three-goal deficit to the visitors at three quarter-time, where it could have been almost five straight shots. But with one of their favourite sons celebrating a milestone, the Bulldogs sparked into action to bag the first five goals of the final term and answering North's two goals with a finishing pair of their own to win by two goals, forcing the red & whites to sweat on the Eagles' fortunes on Sunday. The aforementioned milestone would belong to Jarrod Schiller, playing his 250th match. As for best on ground, for Centrals it was Wilson Barry with 18 disposals, six marks and two goals, one of which was the decider. Campbell Combe was best for North with 22 disposals, 11 tackles and eight clearances.