Round 8 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Saturday

Central District displayed tremendous heart and spirit as it chalked up its first Hostplus SANFL League win with a 10-point triumph against West Adelaide at X Convenience Oval. 

Trailing for as long as 82 minutes throughout the energy-sapping contest amid drenching conditions at the Ponderosa, the Bulldogs didn’t hit the front until the 13th minute of the last quarter.

The Bloods, searching for their first win at Elizabeth since 2018, led by as much as 25 points at half-time before Central coach Paul Thomas gave his troops a stern message at the main change.

Whatever Thomas said had a significant impact as his men  slowly chipped away at the deficit in driving rain, Aiden Grace taking a strong mark and converting to bring his side within a kick 10 minutes into the final term.

Ethan East then displayed great tenacity with a gutsy smother setting up an opportunity to receive a free kick inside 50m, his neat set shot putting the hosts in front for the first time since 15 minutes into the opening quarter.

Grace then kicked his third to seal the deal after a stunning passage of clean play from the Dogs along the Kris Grant Grandstand wing, orchestrated by the supreme workrate of Hostplus SUper Player of the Day Josh Fahey.

”It’s been a tough eight weeks but to come back the way we did in the second half – I was super proud of the boys,” Fahey told Channel 7 after the final siren.

Finishing with 22 disposals, four marks and four clearances, the former GWS half-back regularly showed off his speed and raking left-foot kick to advantage for the Bulldogs.

Central teammates Leyton Chisholm (22 disposals) and Harry Grant (20 disposals) were industrious inside the centre square while runners Ryan Lane-Ellis and Kai Pudney, both with 17 touches, also played their role.

Key defender Austin Kitschke was superb in the back half with 18 possessions and six marks as he teamed well with the unheralded George Kendall (13 disposals, five marks).

West’s Jesse Thackeray produced the best game of his 34-game career, racking up 29 possessions, seven clearances, eight tackles and an eye-catching checkside goal on the run in the second term.

Kobe Ryan returned from his shoulder injury to get at the bottom of the packs for 24 disposals and five clearances while Callum Park had 26 disposals streaming out of defence.

Chris Burgess was the visitors’ only multiple goal kicker with two, as they could only manage two behinds in the last term.