Australian Football

Match Report

In the last Saturday afternoon match, the action takes us north to the Playford Alive Oval where the Bulldogs hosted the Magpies. The 'Dogs have had little strife with the Maggies over the last few years, but dropping a game to the old enemy in Round 17 last year left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Centrals faithful. They made up for that in Round 6 at Alberton, shoving aside the 'Pies for their first win of the year by 43 points. This time around for the first time in a long time, many people had stayed away which is a bit odd considering some of the biggest crowds at the Ponderosa come in fixtures against Port.

The ball slipped out of hands, the blustery conditions and wet ball creating a low-scoring contest with the afternoon's proceedings opening with the Bulldogs taking the only goal and Port's two behinds to see the home side ahead by four points at the first change. The goals were more plentiful in the second term, the match turning into an all out slog and arm-wrestling contest. The Dogs fell behind here, the Magpies taking 4.1 to 2.1 to go into the long break with an eight-point lead. Centrals could count themselves fortunate to still be anywhere near the 'Pies by this time, their skill errors were rife and without a dominant forward or any multiple contributors apart from the veterans, they didn't have much to kick to near goal. They managed to draw the gap back to two points at three quarter-time after kicking 3.1 to 2.1, but the day would belong to the Magpies as they outlasted the Dogs right up to the end. The final term would be an equally fought one, both sides scoring 2.1 as the visitors snatched a two-point win, Port's first win at Elizabeth in 10 years.

Sam Gray was named best for the Magpies, while Brad Symes was named best afield for Central. BTW... the umpires couldn't get off the field fast enough, quickly gathering the match ball and sprinting off the arena within 20 seconds of the final siren!