Central District overcomes 16-point three-quarter time deficit to beat West Adelaide, notch second consecutive win
Last week Central District fought back from a 29-point half-time deficit to stun Woodville-West Torrens. On Saturday, the Bulldogs came from behind again, this time to defeat West Adelaide.
Central District is sending seven-time premiership coach Roy Laird out in the best possible way, notching another gritty win — against West Adelaide at Richmond on Saturday.
A week after fighting back from a 29-point half-time deficit to upset Woodville-West Torrens, the Bulldogs overcame the Bloods’ 16-point three-quarter time lead to triumph by 15 points.
It was Central’s first consecutive victories since rounds three and four, and just its fourth win of the season.
The comeback came with just one fit player on the bench by half-time following injuries to Marcus Barreau (concussion) and Kyle Presbury (achilles).
On a day his two former AFL sides faced off, former Carlton and Adelaide goalsneak Troy Menzel was one of the Bulldogs’ heroes, kicking four goals, including two crucial majors when the visitors made their run during the final term.
Laird, who this month announced he would step down at the end of the campaign, called the triumph “a pretty special effort” under the circumstances.
“Through the players’ ability the last couple of weeks to show some courage and great effort, we had a fair bit of confidence at half-time,” Laird said.
“Even though we lost a little bit of ground on the scoreboard in the third quarter, we still had confidence we could be composed enough in the last quarter to handle the situation.
“Credit to the boys, they did it really well.
“I think we’re seeing a true reflection of what this group is capable of and it’s exciting going forward.”
At three-quarter time, it looked like Central would be made to pay for its inaccuracy because it had kicked 6.10 to West’s 10.2 to that stage.
But the Bulldogs stunned the Bloods by booting five straight majors without missing to open the fourth term and kept the hosts scoreless after three-quarter time.
Menzel kicked the first of the final quarter just 50 seconds in, then Justin Hoskin cut the margin to four points three-and-a-half minutes later.
The Bulldogs then hit the lead for the first time since early in the second quarter after a nice counter-attack from defensive 50 ended with a close-range goal to Jarrod Schiller.
Schiller (30 disposals, eight clearances) and his brother, Travis (27 touches, 10 clearances) worked tirelessly all day for Central, which out-tackled West 75-60 and was particularly fierce at the contest during its fourth-quarter charge.
Bloods coach Gavin Colville said the team “embarrassed ourselves and our football club today”.
“It’s not acceptable – it’s happened too many times this year,” Colville said.
“Some things need to change and we’ll review everything we’re doing.
“I thought we were moving forward but today shows we’ve got a long way to go in terms of our mental toughness and our ability to fight when the chips were down.”
One of West’s positives was young forward Riley Thilthorpe.
The 17-year-old is eligible for the 2020 draft and at 198cm and 95cm, has a bit of Richmond star Tom Lynch about the way he moves.
He can clunk a mark, is athletic and will give defenders headaches over the next 18 months.
In just his second league game on Saturday, he finished with two goals, eight marks and 15 disposals.
“He’s got terrific hands and his running capacity is going to be elite at the AFL level as well,” Colville said.
“He’s an exciting prospect and a terrific kid.”
SCOREBOARD
CENTRAL DISTRICT 3.4 5.7 6.10 11.11 (77)
WEST ADELAIDE 4.0 6.1 10.2 10.2 (62)
BEST — Central: T. Schiller, Menzel, J. Schiller, Goodrem, Hoskin, Jenner, Fort.
West: Stevens, Waite, Schmidt, Dunkin.
GOALS — Central: Menzel 4; J. Schiller 2; Fort, Gillard, Hoskin, Presbury, Jenner.
West: Thilthorpe, Keough 2; Stevens, Cleeland, Haysman, Levicki, Willsmore, Laube.
INJURIES – Central: Barreau (concussion), Presbury (achilles).
UMPIRES — Scott, Hughes, Philp.
At Richmond Oval