Australian Football

Match Report

The first match is the cut-throat 1st Semi-Final between the Magpies and the Bulldogs. The Magpies were taken down by the Bloods in the Qualifying Final, just over a week removed from their last minor round clash at Alberton Oval where the home side won. The Dogs on the other hand earlier that day would dump the Redlegs from the premiership race in emphatic fashion, signalling their winning return to finals action with their 44-point victory. But the Magpies have presented a problem to the Bulldogs in 2015, with both matches ending in Port victories at both Alberton and Elizabeth. Back in Round 9, the Magpies flew into the Ponderosa and took an eight-point win, then backed up again at the 'Pies nest in Round 16 by 17 points. Even more worrying, especially for Centrals fans, was that 14 AFL-listed players would be taking to the field. 

The Bulldogs have played in eight 1st Semi-Finals, for only 50% success with their first appearance coming back in 1971 when they defeated Sturt, ending their storied 1966-1970 premiership run. Their last showing in this match was just two years ago in what was their most recent finals appearance, their 2013 season ended by the Roosters to the tune of 88 points. The Magpies have been in this situation on 13 occasions for eight victories, their last 1st Semi was back in 2001 where they accounted for Norwood by 44 points. They have also taken two flags from this position, the first being in 1959 and the last being back in 1998 where they also faced their old rivals for a massive 76-point win.

The Bulldogs faithful were out in force, in fact this game probably had more people on the terraces than the later fixture! To everybody's surprise, the Dogs got off to a flying start to open the afternoon's proceedings. The Magpies' two goals in the first term would come from John Butcher grubber kicks, but not until over half-way through the quarter. By quarter-time, the Dogs would hold a 21-point lead, goals coming from the likes of Caleb Edmead, Wayne Milera and captain Paul Thomas to score 5.3. The tempo slowed up a bit from that opening stanza, but the gap would be extended by the long break. The Magpies relied too much on long bombs, only breaking through for two majors from three scores through Louis Sharrad and Will Frampton. Milera would bob up again in goal with his duck-and-weave effort, the Dogs would add 3.3 to their tally as Centrals would be out to a 29-point lead at half-time. 

Now the Bulldogs' 2015 season has been littered with wasteful third quarter efforts and it was about to happen again as the Magpies came back to the field an entirely different mob, their half-time break was spent with coach Garry Hocking probably giving them something to think about... and they responded. Three goals in the third quarter, including ones from Frampton and Butcher bringing it back to a three-goal deficit at three quarter-time, the Dogs couldn't find a major to take seven behinds. One highlight for the Dogs in that term was a chase down by Luke Habel on Kane Mitchell. The final term was a nail-biter, the Magpies just kept on coming with 4.1, Andrew Moore and Anthony Biemans added to the scoresheet. But Kyle Presbury and Milera's goals and a behind and another chase down tackle in the Magpies' goalsquare on Frampton by Matt Prior would see the Dogs through to next week with their five-point victory. 

The captains were the standouts for the day, Paul Thomas and Steve Summerton named best for their respective sides.