Glenelg conquered Central District for a rare win at Elizabeth Oval to take top spot on the ladder

Glenelg had an explosive finish to last season, and they have taken that form into 2019 to be a serious challenger for the SANFL crown.

Glenelg coach Mark Stone offers some advice for his triumphant side. Picture: Matt Loxton.

Glenelg snapped a lengthy losing streak for the second successive round and climbed to top of the ladder with a convincing 49-point victory over Central District at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.

After ending a 12-game losing drought against Woodville-West Torrens, the Tigers finally grabbed a win at the Bulldogs’ home after dropping their previous 10 contests.

And they did it in a canter, having far too much polish and class as well as a bundle of superior attacking weapons, to grab top spot courtesy of Norwood’s loss to the Eagles at Woodville Oval.

“This win is pleasing for the whole club,” Tigers coach Mark Stone said. “We did not talk about it, but they are on the board, those horrible beatings out here, some real hidings.

“I thought we took a little step last year and today we wanted to take a big step and win out here. We would have taken a one point win, but as it turned out we played quite strongly.

“We are keen to develop a brand, a respected brand, and how people look at us and go ‘they are a serious footy team, they are not the team which will roll over under pressure’.”

The Bulldogs tested the Tigers for much of the first quarter despite kicking against the wind, before the visitors exploded with three goals in six minutes.

Glenelg Coach, Mark Stone talking to his team in the match against Centrals in Elizabeth. Picture: Matt Loxton

The Tigers then nailed seven goals against the wind in the second term to ram home their advantage and all but end the contest for the premiership points.

When the Tigers are given as much space as they were gifted by their opponents, they have the skills and game to carve sides apart. Up forward they had a massive height advantage over the Bulldogs’ defence and they used it with quick, well delivered entries inside the 50m.

At the other end of the ground, the Tigers were disciplined in defence and got numbers back to defuse any danger. Aaron Joseph, Will Gould, Chris Curran and Max Proud all their did their job.

The Tigers were aided by plenty of comical turnovers by the Bulldogs. Even a 15m kick under absolutely no pressure proved beyond some players. Simple marks were dropped.

And the Bulldogs were punished by a very good, well drilled outfit.

“We had shocking turnovers far too often,” Bulldogs coach Roy Laird said. “It is not league standard to miss handballs, kicks, and drop marks of the type we do.”

SCOREBOARD

GLENELG 4.4 11.4 13.5 17.7 (109)

CENTRAL DISTRICT 0.4 3.8 5.10 8.12 (60)

BEST - Glenelg: Snook, Partington, Reynolds, Bradley, Joseph, Hosie, Proud, Scharenberg. Central: Hoskin, Fort, Menzel, J. Schiller.

GOALS - Glenelg: Reynolds 5, McBean, Hosie 3, Scharenberg, Motlop, Bailey, Partington, Bradley, Gregson. Central: Hoskin 4, Menzel, Fort, Jaydon Neagle, Gillard.

UMPIRES - Sboro, Morgan, Crosby.

CROWD - 1560 at X Convenience Oval, Elizabeth.