Roosters hold off Dogs despite masterclass from Travis Schiller

THE ROOSTERS have extended their strong recent form with a thrilling nine point win over Central District in bitter conditions, despite a masterclass from Dogs ball magnet Travis Schiller.

Max Thring was among the Roosters’ best on Sunday. Picture: AAP/Russell Millard.

THE ROOSTERS have extended their strong recent form with a thrilling nine point win over Central District in bitter conditions, despite a masterclass from Dogs ball magnet Travis Schiller.

North are now 8-2 for the season after they held off a gallant Central District team superbly led by Schiller with 45 possessions, 20 more than his nearest rival in teammate Brendan Dew (20).

It’s why Roosters coach Josh Carr was disappointed with his team’s ability to win contested ball.

“They smashed us,” he said.

“It’s something we’ll have to work on during the week. But it was pleasing to walk away with the win.”

Cameron Craig takes a mark at Prospect Oval on Sunday. Picture: AAP / Russell Millard

It was an opening quarter of contrasting styles with the Roosters kicking two from the goal line (via Max Thring and Matt McDonough) while the Dogs landed twin bombs from outside 50 through Jacob Templeton and John Butcher, using a stiff breeze to maximum effect.

The Dogs’ first major came against the flow of play as an intercept ended up in the hands of Templeton who nailed a long range beauty — it would be one of eight kicked from long range at the Farmer End.

The Roosters eventually snatched back the lead after Keenan Ramsey converted from close range.

The home team dominated the pill, with four of the top five ball getters in red and white.

Despite an early strike to Jarred Allmond, the second term belonged to Sam Hanna who marked strongly and converted three times in just over six minutes to give the Dogs an injection of belief when the home appeared to be edging clear.

Players fight for the ball during the North Adelaide-Central District clash. Picture: AAP / Russell Millard

But the Roosters hit back in the most spectacular way possible, with four long bombs from outside the arc through Alexander Barns (two), Cameron Craig and Robert Young, to give the home side a 27 point buffer at half time.

That was chewed back to just five points as the Dogs piled on four unanswered goals, with two more coming from outside 50 through Butcher and Darcy Fort.

Then the rain came, making Matt McDonough’s second major an important steadier, then yet another long range strike through Mitchell Harvey, which slid between the uprights.

A nine-point lead at the last change was whittled down to two, before a pair of Sam McInerney goals got the Roosters home.

Dogs coach Roy Laird bemoaned his side’s inability to play four quarters of consistent football.

“We fought valiantly in the end but you’re chasing the game,” he said.

“We missed some opportunities in the first quarter with a strong wind behind us.”

NORTH ADELAIDE: 3.2 10.8 12.10 14.11 95

CENTRAL DISTRICT: 2.3 6.5 11.7 13.8 86

BEST:

Central District: Schiller, Hanna, Dew, Habel, Butcher.

North Adelaide: Wilkie, Allmond, Thring, Barns.

GOALS: Barns, Ramsey, McDonough, McInerney 2, Allmond, Thring, Ryswyk, Young, Harvey, Craig.

Goals: Hanna 4, Butcher 3, D Fort, Schiller 2, Templeton, Hoskin.

UMPIRES: Hundertmark, Philp, Burke.

CROWD: 2179 at Prospect Oval.