SANFL: Eagles win first game against Central District at Elizabeth in 4026 days

ROUND four is way too early to start writing off sides. Especially when that side would be Central District.

ROUND four is way too early to start writing off sides. Especially when that side would be Central District.

So, instead, we’ll talk about the other mob. The team that left Elizabeth hammering a “work in progress” sign above the Ponderosa gates. A week after crushing Norwood by 81 points, Woodville-West Torrens gave similar treatment to the Bulldogs to stamp themselves a genuine SANFL player this year.

The margin wasn’t as heavy — this time a comfortable 40 points — but every bit as impressive. Especially considering this was the first time the Eagles had won at Elizabeth in 11 years, breaking an 11-game losing streak that stretched to 4026 days with a victory that, really, was in the bag midway through the second term.

“From a club point of view, it’s a hoodoo that’s not nice,” coach Michael Godden said.

“To win it, it doesn’t mean any more in terms of the year but it’s a nice thing to do and I’m glad we’ve done it because something like that lingers until you break it.”

The Eagles also wrecked the home-crowd celebrations for Centrals skipper Paul Thomas, who was honoured with a banner for reaching his 250-game milestone against Glenelg at the Bay last week.

They did it first with committed and disciplined defence and supreme efficiency in front of goal, after Central dominated virtually every key area in the first term yet still trailed by three goals.

Woodville-West Torrens was just too good with the ball in their hands. They linked with chains of handballs and kicks, running multiple goals the length of the ground.

When they didn’t have it, they pressured Central District, who had no trouble winning the ball but lacked the ability to hold it. In the end, the Dogs won the clearances 46-30 and the inside-50s 47-37 — and couldn’t get within seven goals.

Matt Goldsworthy was brilliant for the Eagles. He led a midfield that won superb service from ruckman Marc Borholm, who racked up 50 hit-outs.

Jared Petrenko linked wonderfully, Luke Jarrad exploited his kicking game, James Boyd still managed 20 touches and four clearances in a quiet game for him and Angus Rowntree’s work in tight was impressive.

The Eagles key forwards and backs dominated while Central clearly lacked injured pair Trent Goodrem and target Bryce Retzlaff.

“We were second best by a long way,” Central coach Roy Laird said.