SANFL finals: West Adelaide defeat Central District by 53 points to make grand final
WEST Adelaide was supposed to be wounded and a bucket load of injuries had forced the Bloods to summon reinforcements for the preliminary final contest.
WEST Adelaide was supposed to be wounded and a bucket load of injuries had forced the Bloods to summon reinforcements for the preliminary final contest.
There were some big names missing from the battle against Central District at Adelaide Oval Sunday. What was not missing though was spirit, passion for the contest and a far greater number of players hungry to have an impact.
It was a stunning performance from the Bloods and they will now challenge Woodville-West Torrens for the SANFL crown at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. Maybe the battle to extend their season beyond the minor round and then two tough final wins against Norwood and Port Adelaide had taken their toll. But it was a limp end of the season for the Bulldogs.
“We tried but we were second rate,’’ Bulldogs coach Roy Laird said. “They (Bloods) were the best by a mile.
“We had some blokes who had really poor games and were not up to the heat of a final. We were fumbly early and we looked slow and their confidence rises from that.
“The large majority of the blokes put in hard work over the second half of the year but this competition is too good for that, to get rewarded for half a year’s work and we were rightly found out.’’
The Bloods had all but sewn up a berth in the season finale by half-time when they led by 46 points and were in complete control. In fact, the result was probably decided by quarter-time. Sometimes statistics do not always paint a true picture but the numbers were extremely relevant.
By the first change, the Bloods had 46 more possessions and 17 more marks while the rest of the stats were also damning for the Bulldogs.
Too often, the Bloods moved the ball with ease through the corridor and the opposition simply refused to pick up opponents and apply body pressure. While the Bloods were composed and sure-handed, the Bulldogs fumbled and constantly missed targets.
When the Bulldogs did get their hands to the ball, they were put under enormous pressure from the committed smothering Bloods defensive work. Nick Homburg amassed 11 touches for the Bloods and kicked two goals in the first quarter. But it was the marking power of the Bloods which was so potent.
The pattern stretched into the second quarter when at times it resembled little more than a training session for the Bloods as they tore the Bulldogs apart.
Midway through the second quarter, Bloods’ Kaine Stevens burst through five feeble tackling attempts from the Bulldogs. It was embarrassing for the red, white and blue.
It took the Bulldogs’ 21 minutes into the second term for to nail their first goal, courtesy of Sam Hanna. That was a true reflection of the Bloods’ dominance.
The Bloods always ensured numbers to the contest and their tremendous work ethic around the packs earned them a flood of opportunities to attack.
And there was always an option given the lack of pressure from the Bulldogs. Justin Hoskin has been brilliant for the Bulldogs this season and he had a huge influence in the third quarter as his side finally found fight. Paul Thomas also lifted his workrate and they were able eat slowly into the deficit.
But the damage had been done. Plus there were too many passengers in the Bulldogs, who lacked big man presence as well as the qualities and desperation necessary to warrant a grand final berth.
SCOREBOARD
WEST ADELAIDE 4.5 9.7 11.8 15.8 (98)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 0.2 2.3 5.6 6.9 (45)
BEST — West: Stevens, Porplyzia, Homburg, Middleton, Wasley-Black, Beech, Helbig, Keough. Central: Hoskin, Habel, Prior.
GOALS — West: Homburg 3, Tuck, Beech, Webb, Brind, Middleton 2, Schiller, Haysman. Central: Hoskin 2, Milera, Potter, Mabon, Habel.
INJURIES — West: Agostino (thigh), Helbig (shoulder).
UMPIRES — Haussen, Crosby, Medlin.
CROWD — 7218 at Adelaide Oval.