Australian Football

Match Report

The Second Semi-Final was a much anticipated contest between the Bulldogs and the Eagles. Grand Final opponents of recent times and in semi-finals as well, this year was a different story in terms of the minor season. The Eagles had the wood on Centrals for both games this year, but both games were decided by less than two goals. A near even first quarter saw the Bulldogs ahead by four points, with more of the same in the second term, Centrals leading at the long break by three.

The second half saw the Bulldogs make more of their opportunities, kicking 6.1 to the Eagles 2.3. Ken Farmer Medallist Daniel Schell providing a lead that the Eagles just didn't have. Heath Hopwood was allowed to run freely and ran rings around his Eagle opponents. However the last quarter saw the Eagles gradually reel the Bulldogs back in, bagging six goals without a miss to the Dogs' 2.1. It was down to two points with a few minutes to spare and it was down to the Eagles' Leigh Treeby to bring the ball into their zone. Marking the ball on the wing, he made a big mistake of handballing along the boundary... completely ignoring four tall teammates at half forward. An infringement by an Eagle saw a free kick paid to Centrals and that was all that was needed, they ran out two point winners and are into their fifth straight Grand Final.