Shane McAdam, nephew of Bulldogs Magarey Medallist Gilbert McAdam, kicks three goals to help Sturt beat Central District

A McAdam had a say on the outcome at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday but unfortunately for Central District fans it was for Sturt.

Sturt’s Shane McAdam gets the ball away under pressure against Central. Picture: Dean Martin

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• Munn making his mark for Sturt

IT was fitting a McAdam had a say on the outcome of a game at Elizabeth Oval today but unfortunately for Central District fans it was for Sturt rather than the Bulldogs.

Shane McAdam impressed after half-time in the Double Blues’ 35-point victory, helping to turn the contest with his relentless pressure and craftiness in attack.

He finished with 16 disposals, three goals and nine marks but it was his chasing and six tackles that stood out most, running hard to put Bulldogs defenders under the pump.

Sturt brought McAdam, the nephew of 1989 Bulldogs Magarey Medallist Gilbert McAdam, to the club from WAFL side Claremont at the start of the season and coach Marty Mattner said he was having a big impact.

Travis Schiller manages a handpass under immense pressure. Picture: Dean Martin

“We’ve never really had a guy who can take marks but also tackle and chase,” Mattner said.

“He gets up the ground and can take them on a lead, he took a pack mark as well and he’s very hard to match up on, which makes him very dangerous.

“We feel like he’s playing some really good footy ... and he played really well (today).”

Central actually started the better of the two sides, kicking five goals in the opening quarter to take a 17-point lead into the first break.

But Sturt worked its way into the game during the second term and was two points ahead by half-time.

The Double Blues had the match on their terms for much of the third quarter as Central’s skill errors and poor goalkicking hurt it.

McAdam’s two goals at the start of the last quarter killed off the contest.

“I thought the first quarter we tried to play a bit their style, not Sturt style, but the last three quarters were really good,” Mattner said.

Bulldogs coach Roy Laird said his side was inconsistent, not only this season but in games.

“It was a promising start but our skill level started to drop away in the second quarter when the pressure was there,” Laird said.

“We’re aware of it (team’s inconsistency) and trying to work through it but at the moment, we don’t have the answers.”

SCOREBOARD

CENTRAL DISTRICT 5.1 6.2 7.6 10.10 (70)

STURT 2.2 6.4 10.6 16.9 (105)

BEST — Sturt: Colquhoun, McAdam, Greenslade, Kirkwood, Penfold, Hone, Slimming.

Central: T. Schiller, Jenner, Hoskin, D. Fort.

GOALS — Sturt: McAdam 3, Dodd, Evans, Osborn, Penfold 2; Kirkwood, Greenslade, Slimming, Hone, Munn. Central: Butcher 3, Nason, D. Fort 2; Barmby, McKenzie, Milne.

INJURIE S — Nil.

UMPIRE S — Speck, Herrmann, Hargreaves.

At Elizabeth Oval