Contributed by Forum Member "redandblack"
I left at ¾ time.
Centrals had the premiership officially wrapped up today, but in reality, they won it 2 weeks ago. Today was merely about appreciating an experienced team playing a well-oiled game plan, against a tired team who knew their chance had disappeared the last time they had played each other.
As a Blood’s supporter who had watched both sides closely only when they had played West, the biggest surprise was that Sturt weren’t invincible. Far from it, they either decided, or were forced, to play wide with a style that required precision skill. Against some other teams, it works. Against a finals-hardened Central, it never looked like succeeding.
Before the siren, I had enjoyed Michael Godden’s success in a stirring Reserves comeback. An under 18’s premiership and a Reserves flag was only a partial redemption for the less-than-usual, but still loyal Snouts’ gathering. Could Luke Norman continue the ex-Bloods coaches run? The answer took about 10 minutes and was a resounding no.
Without Herring and with Chambers, Sturt looked vulnerable up forward and the problem with playing Coad up forward was that Coad was playing up forward. Central contained McGlone’s influence, a job that would have been much harder if Coad had been playing down back, but enough of Sturt. They could look back on a season far more successful than anyone could, or did, foresee. They’d lost several experienced players and had made a Grand Final with a new coach.
We all know about Central, so it’s hard to write anything new. I was pleased to see an ex-West water-boy amongst their better players, but I struggled to find any other West connection. Apart from that, it was obvious that the Centrals players trusted each other. They trusted their teammate to win a 50/50 contest and their trust was often rewarded. They trusted their ball-winners to play direct football and they did. That’s certainly easier when you’ve got Daniel Schell to mark the footy, or Ed Sansbury to cause havoc, or Scott Dutschke to punch above his weight in pack-marking contests, or James or Chris Gowans to kick a goal or find an unmarked player, but still they stuck to that trust.
They were also well served by some so-called unfashionable players, led by Jason MacKenzie, whose ruckwork and behind the ball efforts were so important and Heath Lawry, who must have thought it was his lucky day in more ways than one..
Until ¾ time the highlight had been the crowd figure announcement of nearly 36,000. I made a mental note to contact the media and remind them that Adelaide United almost never get half that, so how about some decent coverage. That’s when I left and Centrals fans will have to excuse me, but I’ve seen enough of their premiership celebrations to last me a lifetime. No disrespect, they fully deserved their win and they won’t stop winning until another team gets better than them. The way to do it is when they’re vulnerable; the earlier finals.
On the long walk back to the car, I contented myself with knowing that the team to do it will be none other than my own team – the mighty Bloods.
At least I’m sure our club song will be sung after the final siren.