The Redlegs have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at Coopers Stadium, going down by 2 points in James Gallagher 150th SANFL League game.

Heath Culpitt replaced Stephen Doyle in the named 21, after the big-ruckman failed to get through training on Thursday night.

The Redlegs were out of the blocks and on the scoreboard quickly for the second week in a row. Eleven (11) scoring shots (for a return of 3 goals) to just 2 told two stories, one of dominance across almost every position on the ground and another of wasted opportunities that ultimately may have cost the game.

For much of the second and third quarters the Redlegs were able to maintain a five goals lead and just looked to be doing it easier than Central Districts who were struggling to get the trademark game into gear mainly thanks to the fact the Redlegs midfielders were winning their fair share of the one-on-one contests at stoppages and not letting the visitors set up loose men from where most of the attacking moves emanate. Strong bodied returning mid-fielder Heath Culpitt lapped up the conditions and was very effective with each and every possession as was David Trotter, highly publicised Taylor Walker was playing it front and effective everywhere but his goal scoring conversion, Sam Rowe and Adam Cockshell were proving a menace up forward as well.

When Matthew Bartemucci kicked a clever goal four minutes into the last quarter the momentum was with the home-side, a 36 point lead, however it would be the teams last major, some Norwood inner demons would appear again as Dogs Captain Paul Thomas was the catalyst behind and onslaught of six unanswered goals that, finishing with Ian Callinan's goal with just one minute on the clock that would have them in front for the first and most important time during the afternoon - at the final siren.

The Redlegs would be left lamenting another wasted opportunity against a top side after playing a high quality brand of football to earn what should have been a match winning lead, still not having learnt how to cope when the opposition comes at them with the power, intensity and self-belief that Centrals did today. Then again, if we had kicked straight in the first quarter it may have been "game-over" by the first break and we would not have placed ourselves in the vulnerable situation we did. "If's" don’t win games of football however.

Evergreen Brett Zorzi was the teams best player, his usual reliable, rebounding, desperate self, also managing to drift forward and sneak just his second goal in the Redlegs jumper. Whenever David Trotter is in the midfield the Redlegs look dangerous, every possession to the teams attacking advantage and with bulls-eye accuracy, again he was out best and most effective midfielder. Matthew Bartemucci was given a job on Centrals catalyst Adam Switala, and did the job with great discipline and effectiveness, clearly his best game for the year while Matthew Dawes and Stuart Bown also had the better of their opponents and setup many attacking forward movements.

Despite losing by 3 points, our reserves side can be well proud of their efforts. With 12 players still eligible for Junior grade football and playing against a team including a number of experienced league footballers and around 10 premierships at senior level, the team fought back from a 5 goal half-time deficit to pinch the lead late into the last quarter only to be denied victory in the final minutes of the game. For the second week running, Ziggie Alwan playing in the midfield was the teams best, Toby Schulz and Alex Stopp were rebounding and accountable in defence, youngsters Trevor Baust and Ben Jefferies playing with maturity beyond their experience also in the midfield.

Our junior teams both had comprehensive wins over the bottom placed side at Hamra Homes Oval. Josh Benbow kicked 7 goals in the Under 19's 66 point win, William O'Malley, Lachlan Warner named the teams best players. David Oatey's Under 17's went one step further and handed out a 126 trashing, Jimmi Savage with 7 goals, Michael Chippendale 4 and Joel Aish 3 being the major goal kickers while Jimmi along with Jack Brennan, Ton Jonas and Mark Evans amongst many best players.

Next week a trip to Challenge Recruitment Oval to take on Glenelg who will be smarting after their shock 13 point loss to South Adelaide, our last effort against the Bays was embarrassing, we are still to get the points over a top 3 side, there can be no better motivation and challenge.

David J Bean
League Team Manager