Australian Football

Match Report

In what should have been the match shown on TV, the top two teams in Sturt and Central District engaged in battle at Unley Oval. The Dogs were expected to walk right over the Double Blues and keep their two streaks -- their unbeaten run this season and the one on Blues turf extending back to 1985 -- but the home side had a surprise for the Doggies. 

After leading by one goal at quarter time, they then extended that to 15 points by half time after kicking 4.1 to Central's somewhat wasteful 2.4. But the Dogs kicked back in the third term, reducing the margin to just one point after kicking 6.3 to Sturt's 4.1. The final quarter was a fizzer, the Dogs looked like they were going to hold off Sturt long enough to win after kicking 5.2 to 3.1. But the Blues weren't finished by a long shot. While keeping Centrals away from their goal, they threaded through three goals for themselves. The Double Blues ended the streaks to the tune of seven points. 

Although Brant Chambers was champion in goals with his seven big ones, it was Simon Feast who picked up best on ground honours for the Blues while Charles Slattery was best afield for the Dogs.