Round 3 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Saturday

Central District forward Nick Lange was the hero as his Bulldogs produced a last gasp four-point win against Adelaide at X Convenience Oval.

Central coach Paul Thomas spent much of last year lamenting his side’s inability to win the close contests but it was to be the Dogs’ day as Lange calmly slotted his 30m set shot with less than 15 seconds to play.

Coles Value Player Harry Grant managed to scramble a handball after slipping over, with Lange awarded a free kick after Crow Brayden Cook’s tackle slipped high.

”I’d like to think I would back myself in from there,” a relieved Lange told Channel 7 after the game.

”But with all of the pressure, you never know, it can be a different story.

”It was a massive win against a very good Adelaide side. We just had to play our way and it got the job done in the end.”

After a disappointing loss to South Adelaide in Round 1, Thomas’ men have certainly shown they are a team on the rise in 2023 with successive victories against top-three teams in North Adelaide and the Crows.

Using the ball primarily with clean foot passing, the Dogs were extremely efficient given they had two fewer inside 50 entries and six less scoring shots in the memorable victory.

Adelaide led by the largest margin of the day – just 15 points – when Lachlan Gollant booted one of his three majors seven minutes into the fourth quarter.

But the hosts showed plenty of spirit as they refused to lie down, captain Jarrod Schiller leading the way with an exceptional crumbing goal in the 10th minute.

Sturt recruit Mihail Lochowiak – who had earlier received treatment on his quad before returning – added another for Central before Shane McAdam and Matthew Wright missed chances to extend the visitors’ lead.

Adelaide then rushed a behind before Central wingman Ethan East missed in the 26th minute, just two minutes before Lange converted.

The Crows won the last centre clearance of the match and just as Matt Crouch was about to send Adelaide deep inside 50m, the final siren sounded.

Grant was powerful throughout the encounter for the hosts, finishing with 27 disposals and nine clearances while Schiller was a constant positive presence for his side as he tallied 20 disposals, seven marks.

Both of the skipper’s goals will stick in the memory bank given his first will be a contender for Channel 7 Goal of the Week as he booted it directly over his own head in the goal square.

Central pair Billy Iles (21 disposals) and Jez McLennan (20 disposals) provided plenty of drive from the back half and around the ground while Lange finished with four goals from 10 disposals and six marks.

Crouch finished with a team-high 24 possessions and five clearances while Harry Schoenberg was again prominent before registering 22 dispsoals, six marks and two goals.

Crows skipper Wright fought on valiantly considering he was originally ruled out with illness but opted to play while Josh Worrell was a late withdrawal with soreness.