Australian Football

Match Report

In the inner north at the Prospect Oval, the Roosters met the Bulldogs for the SANFL's Northern Derby. The Bulldogs got their year off to a smashing start at the expense of the Roosters, a 107-point hammering at Elizabeth to begin their season. But the Bulldogs didn't take long to drop its intensity, managing just two wins against top-five opposition with other victories coming against the lower end of the table. North's year is already done and dusted, with only pride left to play for. Both sides came into this match on the back of losses, the Dogs downed by the Blues two weeks ago while the Roosters went from taking the Eagles to the limit to a loss against the Redlegs.

The Roosters started off the better outfit, taking a 14-point lead at quarter-time after kicking 5.3 to 3.1 in the opening term. But the Bulldogs took advantage of the Roosters' wayward shooting in the second quarter to lead by a single straight shot at the half-time break after scoring 5.1 to 1.5. With the possibility of having a fight for fifth between themselves, the Tigers and the Magpies in their minds, the Bulldogs had to hold their nerve from here. The third term was almost score-for-score with both sides taking four goals each, the Dogs adding a point to their half-time advantage with their one missed chance to go into the final stanza with a seven-point lead. The Roosters would reel the Bulldogs to within striking distance close to time-on in the last quarter, bringing the gap back to two points. But the Dogs would evade defeat in the end, scoring 3.2 to two goals to leave Menzies Crescent with a 15-point win.

Chris Jansen was voted Centrals' best; the Roosters named Jordie McKenzie as their best on ground.