The replay of the 2008 Grand Final was good close tight match but this time the Central Augusta bloods came out on top winning by four points.
Both sides had players missing through injury but the twenty one players that each team put out onto Memorial Oval on Sunday gave their all and contested the game right to the end.
The bulldogs started the game well and attacking early in the first term soon had two goals on the scoreboard curtesy of full forward Matt Gale and Josh Sykes.
Centrals Robert Clayton-Waye who was one of the bloods best for the match reduced the bulldogs’ lead.
The bloods kept attacking and following two minor scores,
Anthony McKenzie - another of Centrals’ good players on the day – goaled, giving the bloods a two-point lead.
Port went into attack late in the quarter but could only manage a minor score and at the first change central held a one-point ead.
The bulldogs went forward at the start of the second term with Tom Clarke, Michael Burford and Matthew Kendall three of the green and whites best players over four quarters working hard, but Port could only manage a minor score which was to be the green and whites only score for the term.
Centrals had most of the play in the second term in their forward area, Port defenders Adam Wilson and Jamie McNamara were doing their best to repel the bloods attack on goal and after two missed shots on goal Clayton-Waye kicked his second and the bloods third goal.
Chad McKnight was playing well for central and was able to pass to Shannon Wilson who kicked truly late in the term and at half time central had a handy fifteen point lead.
After the long break the green and whites went forward and Brodie Mudge reduced the Bloods’ lead, Centrals key forward Ryan Morris kicked a 50 metre goal and Bloods wingman McKenzie kicked his second and Centrals were now out to a nineteen point lead.
Port was able to stem the tide and Sykes kicked his second goal and Jordan Coombe also was able to kick truly.
Centrals captain Mark Fuller was playing a good defensive game on key Port forward Matt Gale and also had good support in defence from Ashley Grantham and ruckman Shane Curnow.
The Bulldogs had all the play late in the quarter but waisted opportunities and went in at three quarter time trailing the Bloods by six points.
Port with a good clearance from centre and Gale marked in the goal square and the scores were level, following a missed shot on goal by Gale, Sykes kicked his third giving the Bulldogs a seven-point lead.
The last quarter was tight with both defences playing hard tight footy as that did for most of the match.
Centrals Peter Jackson who had been relatively quiet for most of the game kicked a major and shortly after Morris kicked his second giving the Bloods a six-point lead.
At the 16 minute mark Sykes one of the bulldog’s better players kicked his fourth major and the scores were level.
Following a minor score to Port, Centrals Kristopher Crabbe wrestled the lead back five points in the Bloods’ favour, the green and whites had their chances late in the game but in the end Centrals who looked the better side on the day came out victors by four points.
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