SANFL 2019: Central District v West Adelaide Round 3 match report

A wasteful Central District has tasted victory for the first time in season 2019 as West Adelaide will wonder where to next with a 0-3 win-loss start staring them in the face.

Central District coach Roy Laird was impressed with the aerial work from new recruit Troy Menzel. Picture:AAP/Morgan Sette.

A wasteful Central District has tasted victory for the first time in season 2019 as West Adelaide will wonder where to next with a 0-3 win-loss start staring them in the face.

The Dogs could have won by plenty more than the final margin of 20 points at the Ponderosa, doubling the scoring shots of the Bloods whose forward structure bordered on dysfunctional at times.

Led by the on ball artillery of Justin Hoskin — who was clapped off by the Dogs faithful just before the final bell — and Travis and Jarrod Schiller with nearly 100 possessions between them, coach Roy Laird admired his team’s four quarter effort at least.

It took Central less than a minute to get on the board through a behind to Jydon Neagle but it would set the tone for a wayward quarter.

Central’s Jydon Neagle battles West’s Kenneth Karpany at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday. Picture: AAP Image/ Morgan Sette

The Dogs burned at least six chances to score majors while the Bloods recorded a pair through captain Thomas Keough and the lively Gibson Turner.

The Bloods controlled the ball out of defence with plenty of short, precision kicking, opening an early buffer through Mason Middleton’s first early in the second quarter.

By the ninth minute, the Dogs finally registered their first major through a mark and goal from former Crow Troy Menzel, who began to work his way into the contest.

The Dogs’ lack of polish up forward was best captured by a shocking set shot from Jarrod Schiller about 35 metres out which failed to make the distance.

However, through a clever snap from Kyle Presbury the Dogs were suddenly in front by two points at half time.

The home side opened the second half far cleaner than the first with Nicholas Gillard bobbing up to extend their lead to eight points, followed by a goal through a free kick to ruckman Tim Auckland.

A 20 point break — created through Menzel’s second — felt like a much wider margin in a tightly contested game where both sides struggled to find their way through the big sticks.

Despite a mini revival through Keough and Middleton, it was Hoskin who iced the game — and sealed a best on ground performance — with the first of his two goals in the last quarter.

Central coach Roy Laird said it was a “strange game” where his charges failed to take their chances but never gave up.

“It’s our first win so we’re delighted,” Laird said.

“(Justin) Hoskin was excellent, and (Troy) Menzel, I liked his physicality, even in an aerial sense, he was great.”

SCOREBOARD

CENTRAL 0.6 2.10 5.11 7.12 54

WEST 2.2 3.2 4.3 5.4 34

BEST — Central: Hoskin, Schiller J, Schiller T, Menzel, Fort.

West: Stevens, Schiller J, Noble, Keough.

GOALS — Central: Menzel, Hoskin 2, Presbury, Gillard, Auckland.

West: Keough, Middleton 2, Turner.

UMPIRES: Lewis, Sboro, Bennett.

CROWD: 1811 at X Convenience Oval