Dogs One Win From the SANFL Grand Final After Sturt’s Second Half Collapse
In the SANFL’s qualifying final, Central District defeated Sturt 8.2.50 to 5.9.39 in an instant classic. The Bulldogs now have a clash with the ladder-topping Norwood next week. If Central District win that, they will play in the SANFL Grand Final on September 22.
The Dogs were led by Kade Dittmar, Dyson Sharp, Aidan Grace and Billy Iles as the Elizabeth-based outfit overturned a 19-point three-quarter-time deficit to run out 11-point winners.
Sturt weren’t easy beats and at half-time even had a 22-point lead. Will Snelling, Tom Lewis and James Battersby were on top in the middle, combining for 65 disposals across the day. At half-time, Sturt’s class had shone through. The Double Blues led clearances (24-20), hit-outs (28-13) and rebound 50s (18-16).
By full-time, the Dogs had gotten on top in the middle, winning clearances (47-45) and inside 50s (51-36).
As for where the game was won, it was simple. In the second half, Central District were first to the loose football, whereas in the first half, the Double Blues had been first to find the Sherrin.
The Dogs were first to get on the scoreboard through Beau Thomas in a tight and contested game of football in the opening stanza.
Angus Anderson and Tom Lewis converted their opportunities to give Sturt a nine-point lead at quarter-time.
Sturt were better around the football, leading clearances for a lot of the quarter and winning the hit-outs.
However, the inside 50s were in favour of the Dogs, as they used the football better when they had possession.
The second quarter descended into a low-scoring scrap. Sturt missed the opportunity to go further ahead, kicking 2.3 in the opening two quarters. Those opportunities, at the end of the game, would cost them dearly.
The Sturt defence is the best seen in the league since 1921, and it was on full display. Keeping the Dogs to just one goal in the half, the Double Blues’ back six was not only able to keep the Dogs out, but also generate lots of run to set up scoring opportunities.
Sturt’s defence was lead by Will Coomblus doing a fantastic job to keep Aidan Grace out of the contest. To half-time, the dangerous Dogs’ forward had only one disposal.
However, in the premiership quarter, the Dogs bit back.
Will Coomblus finally started to slip against the talented Aidan Grace. Grace was able to convert to give the Bulldogs a sniff 11 minutes into the third.
Jai Larkins and Dyson Sharp goaled either side of three-quarter-time and the Dogs closed to 13 points.
When Aidan Grace finished off a great team goal from 40, the Red, White and Blue were at fever pitch. You could hear the noise from the Adelaide Oval out at Elizabeth.
Moments later, Aidan Grace decided that he would go one better when he snapped through an excellent goal. The ball took one bounce as it went through pad height. One point, funnily enough, was also the difference in the game.
With Sturt desperate in defence, it would take something special from the Dogs. It came in the form of Isaiah Dudley, who burst out the front of a forward stoppage to snap a goal.
The Dogs held possession for the next 10 minutes, until Chisholm kicked the sealer, running into the open goal.
Sturt’s back six
In the first half, Sturt’s back six was impenetrable, conceding only one goal. The Dogs in the second half, led by Aidan Grace, were able to win out, as repeat inside 50s finally broke the Double Blue wall.
Superstar Snelling
Coming into the game, all eyes were on SANFLNOW’s player of the season, Will Snelling. He had 23 disposals, 19 tackles, and nine clearances as he was able to win the ball, but also do the defensive stuff for the Double Blues.
Dogs’ second half brilliance
The Bulldogs were brilliant in the second half, kicking seven goals to one. Lead by Kade Dittmar (19 disposals and nine clearances), young Dyson Sharp got plenty of the football (17 disposals and four clearances).
Up forward, Aidan Grace was held to one disposal at half-time. Grace would walk of the ground with three goals, as the momentum, and more importantly, the scoreboard, swung the way of the Dogs.
Sturt FC: 2.3 4.6 5.9 5.9.39
Central District: 1.0 1.2 3.2 7.4.44
Goalkickers:
Sturt FC:
Anderson, Hone, Lewis, McFayden, Slimming
Central District:
Grace (3), Chisholm, Dudley, Larkins, Sharp, Thomas
Best:
Sturt FC:
Battersby, Hone, Snelling
Central District:
Dittmar, Grace, Sharp