With a thirty-five point win the Bloods have sealed the minor premiership and ended the finals charge of their arch-rivals South.
With an eight-goal haul, Ryan “one-grab” Morris seemed to be clearly a class-above most of the players in the competition.
On Saturday he made the most of every opportunity inside the fifty metre arc and made the Bulldogs pay for turnovers further down field, but more often it was the finishing of the hard work out of the middle from Callary, Dodd, Struck and Quigley.
The delivery into the Bloods forward-line was first-rate leaving the Southy defence little chance. The first term was dour with Morris’ two majors the difference between the two at the change but the ‘Dogs were hunting in packs doing very well to shut down the Bloods.
However, the second stanza was all Centrals as Byron-Boles, Quigley, Harvey, McKnight, Dodd and Dawson were proving elusive for Centrals but it was the skipper and reigning Madigan Medallist Mark Fuller who used this quarter to show his charges and South that the and the Bloods were here to play.
Fuller was everywhere at once winning the taps in the middle and most importantly at the stoppages around the ground.
He cut off Southy forward thrusts and switched the play at will and at times looked to be “waxing” the ball with great mate Shannon Wilson.
It was simply one of the best and complete games I have seen Fuller play. The Bulldogs had their moments as Jones, Shirley, Skipworth, Chris and Michael Heron, Dan Collins and Laube did what they could to keep the proud club in with a sniff.
The third quarter was more of the same as Centrals were just too classy in stringing together smooth and thoughtful transition from the backlines through the middle and up front. The Bullies just couldn’t take a trick and were stretched as Centrals were winning just about every position.
The Matt Harvey versus Michael Heron tussle on a wing was a beauty as Matt Grantham moved onto Morris, Quigley “rested” at half forward and McKnight underscored the great season he has had from half back repelling the Big Vee time after time and setting up attack from behind the centre-square.
Through the centre and in defence Adam Grantham was giving his all but his example seemed to be lost on some as South became their own worst enemy with some skill and decision errors.
Bloods coach Hayes brought off some of his more important players in the final term and this seemed to allow South some breathing space and hope and they played accordingly with the scoreboard perhaps masking a true reflection of the game.
The highlight of the last twenty minutes was Chris Heron’s amazing goal running to the Highway end but to the right of the Goal snapped across his body to gather the six points.
This lifted his team-mates but it was to no avail and the Bulldogs will finish fifth in successive seasons.
If I were giving the Madigan Medal votes for this game, Fuller would get three, Morris two and one vote should go to Adam Grantham.
Final Score: Central Augusta 13.10.88 defeated South Augusta 8.5.53
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