Bulldogs Paul Thomas and Tom Collier return from injury to face West Adelaide at Richmond

CENTRAL District will get a much-needed injection of experience when Paul Thomas and Tom Collier return to side to play West Adelaide.

CENTRAL District will get a much-needed injection of class and experience when captain Paul Thomas and defender Tom Collier return to the side to front West Adelaide at Richmond on Saturday.

The pair has been sidelined with injury and their absence has exposed depth issues at Elizabeth. The Bulldogs have lost their past two games against Adelaide and South Adelaide but coach Roy Laird said Thomas and Collier would be back in the line-up to face the winless Bloods.

Laird used training last week to emphasis the need to produce quality football for longer periods.

“Against the (Woodville-West Torrens) Eagles, Norwood and South we played some high quality footy, we just have to sustain it for longer,’’ Laird said.

“That comes back to mental strength.

“We identified a need to raise the intensity at training and the guys have responded. They have been training well.’’

Despite the Bloods still be without premiership points after four rounds, Laird said their highly competitive first half against Port Adelaide last week proved their capabilities.

Eagles forward Matthew Goldsworthy, right, plays his 100th league game on Sunday.

LIVELY small forward Matthew Goldsworthy will make his 100th league appearance for the Eagles when they take on South Adelaide at Noarlunga.

Goldsworthy made his debut for the Eagles against Sturt in 2008, having been recruited from the club’s Yorke Peninsula zone for the junior grades.

“I’m proud to get that far (100 games),’’ Goldsworthy said.

“To play league - I’m just proud of that. I’ve been lucky with injuries and it is such a great club to play for.

“As a young bloke I’d watch the Eagles because we were in their zone and players such as Cica (Justin Cicolella) and Macca (Mark McKenzie). Then I got to play with them in a premiership.’’

Eagles captain Luke Powell has been a mentor to Goldsworthy, who said the veteran had taught him plenty about the club and how to prepare for games.