Australian Football

Match Report

The Qualifying Final was up next, the Roosters voted as favourites to topple the third placed Bulldogs. Its been a long time between drinks for the North Adelaide mob, the groggies and the other loyal red and white fans not seeing a premiership since 1991. On the other hand the Bulldogs are in the middle of what is hoped to be a decade of dominance. Centrals seemed a little underdone this year after losing several of their star players, but all their rivals always said beware of the finals switch that the Dogs have. Having several star players out for North -- Steven Koops, Danny Hargraves and Chris Ladhams -- would not help the Rooster cause, who at quarter time would be down by 11 points. The Dogs were definitely not troubled with injuries, the new recruits of 2006 in Chad O'Sullivan and Adrian Wilson making real trouble for their North Adelaide opponents. At half time, the Dogs would be ahead by 26 points, which could have been bigger had they been more accurate -- 4.7 to 2.4 -- in the second term.

The devastating punch was yet to come, after the long break the Bulldogs were unleashed and away as they kicked 7.6 to 3.1 in the third term, setting up a nine goal lead by the final change. Daniel Schell, Leigh Westhoff and Luke McCabe were all handy at goal there, Schell having one of his good days with his five goal tally for the day. The Dogs relaxed it a bit in the final term, the Roosters' 6.1 was not enough to bridge the gap in the final term. The Dogs did enough in the last quarter to secure an encounter with the Eagles next weekend to win by 38 points. Has the Bulldog machine got enough to tackle the minor premier? Probably!!! 

Chad O'Sullivan was the stat star for the match and was Central's best afield, while Matthew Krieg was voted North's best.