Woodville-West Torrens coach Michael Godden content as Eagles weather Central District storm

MICHAEL Godden emerged from a behind-closed-doors meeting with his Woodville-West Torrens players, after a hard-fought victory over Central District, a content coach.

MICHAEL Godden emerged from a behind-closed-doors meeting with his Woodville-West Torrens players, after a hard-fought victory over Central District, a content coach.

To absorb a serious challenge from the Bulldogs at Woodville Oval before putting a gap on the scoreboard for a 32-point win - and the club's ninth successive triumph - satisfied Godden.

The premiership coach claimed the pressure from the Bulldogs was the toughest the Eagles had confronted this season and he heaped praise on his players for the performance.

The win also enabled veteran Luke Jarrad to celebrate his 200th SANFL league appearance in style, as well as Michael Wundke's 100th.

"I rate the Dogs, always have,'' Godden said. "I rate their coach and club, they fight and if they lose this year it has not been by much.

"We knew we were in for a real battle and this game was a really good challenge for the playing group. Both clubs were at it in the first half and in the second we were up and at it in the contested footy.

"To finish with a 32-point win, I'm really proud of them.''

The Bulldogs conceded the first four goals before fighting back to trail by just six points at quarter time. Scores were level half-time, with the Dogs’ final two goals for the second quarter reward for tackling pressure in attack.

Turnovers hurt the Bulldogs and they were punished on the scoreboard after half-time as the Eagles pounced on stray kicks and handballs.

Guilty of a swag of mistakes in the second term when the Bulldogs created confusion with their defensive tactics, the Eagles used the ball more effectively after the main break to grab the ascendency.

Classy Jared Petrenko was among the Eagles having a significant influence and providing sparking run, while Andrew Ainger bagged three goals in the third quarter as the most damaging forward.

Bulldogs coach Roy Laird was pleased with his side's endeavour but he lamented the inability to maintain pressure for longer than 10-minute patches.

"We had strong sustained periods of good effort, our tackling numbers showed we were here to play,'' Laird said. "But it was in 10 minute blocks.

"The Eagles are a good team and in good form. We took it up to them but we have got to do it for longer.

"In the third quarter we'd miss a (target with a ) kick and we have got to be better.''

EAGLES 4.1 5.2 11.4 13.7 (85)

CENTRAL DISTRICT 3.1 5.2 7.2 8.5 (53)

BEST - Eagles: Petrenko, Allmond, Ainger, Jarrad, Martyn, Lewis. Central: Thomas, Jansen, Habel, Goodrem, Potter, Stephenson.

GOALS - Eagles: Ainger 5, McGregor 3, Martyn, Raikiwasa 2, Wundke. Central: Retzlaff 3, Goodrem 2, Thomas, Hoskin, Hanna.

UMPIRES - Cook, Lewis, Fleer.