Resurgent Bulldogs can smell the finals after 30-point win over West Adelaide

THERE is a smell of finals in the air again at Central District after a 30-point win over West Adelaide on Saturday.

THERE is a smell of finals in the air again at Central District.

The Bulldogs guaranteed themselves a spot in the major round and made a statement on the competition with a convincing 30-point victory over West Adelaide at Elizabeth on Saturday.

And a top three finish and the crucial double chance in the finals is within reach.

They are just a game behind third-placed North Adelaide with three rounds remaining and they have played a game less.

The loss has put a top three spot at risk for the Bloods and they are now just percentage above the Bulldogs.

This was a performance of substance from the Bulldogs and the margin flattered the visitors, who had 15 less scoring shots and were exposed for a lack of firepower in attack with a scoreless third quarter. '

"We have had a really consistent effort against the better sides and there is a real belief with what we are capable of doing," Bulldogs coach Roy Laird said.

"We have not done it often enough but today we were very good.

"I was encouraged again by how we looked aerobically.

"We have got some nice legs and we have improved our work defensively - our intensity has improved there."

The Bloods had three less scoring shots for the first quarter yet led by seven points at quarter-time against a Bulldogs outfit constantly butchering the ball going into the attacking 50m.

Windy conditions created plenty of scrappy football and a third of the kicks and a quarter of the handballs in the first half were ineffective. The tackling pressure was terrific and there was plenty of in-tight action.

Bulldog Josh Glenn showed why he has been encouraged to enter the AFL draft when he took three bounces and nailed a goal from deep in a pocket to regain the lead for the home side 21 minutes into the second quarter.

Taite Silverlock grabbed the lead back for the Bloods four minutes later but they would not impact on the scoreboard again until 13 minutes into the final term when Travis Tuck goaled - and that came from a Bulldogs mistake.

The Bulldogs smashed the Bloods in the ruck and the influence of Seb Guilhaus enabled the home side to dominate the hit-outs by a staggering 36-2 in the first half.

This was a battle between the pace of the Bulldogs and the braun of the Bloods and as the game lengthened so too did the impact of the run from the likes of James Boyd, Brad Symes, Paul Thomas and Luke Habel.

Jarrod Schiller is small in stature but big in heart and he was another damaging Bulldog.

Not that the physical presence of the Bulldogs can be overlooked as a key factor in the victory.

The Bloods, looking lethargic at times and lacking fluency and conviction with their movement, struggled to escape from defence for lengthy periods as the Bulldogs continually tightened the screws.

"Central's athleticism on the outside was superb," Bloods coach Andrew Collins said.

"Our midfield's inability to run - their ruck dominance hurt us."

CENTRAL DISTRICT 1.5 5.5 9.8 10.15 (75)

WEST ADELAIDE 3.0 5.3 5.3 7.3 (45)

BEST - Central: J. Schiller, Guilhaus, Boyd, Symes, Thomas, Habel, Goodrem. West: Green, Ferguson, Macreadie.

GOALS - Central: Habel, J. Schiller 2; Boyd, Goodrem, Glenn, Barmby, O'Hara, Dutschke. West: Silverlock 2; Hartlett, Tuck, Macreadie, Keough, Porplyzia.

UMPIRES - C. Bown, C. Fleer, A. Crosby.

CROWD - 1751 at Playford Alive Oval.

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