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So Central District has a new challenger willing to stand toe to toe and trade blows with the heavyweight champ. The Glenelg Football Club, frustrated and annoyed since its most recent league flag in 1986, now has the belief it can conquer the Bulldogs in the premiership decider at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
After failing to stand up in the finals heat against the Bulldogs the previous week, the Tigers responded with an emphatic 66-point preliminary final victory over Sturt at Adelaide Oval yesterday.
This was just the performance Tigers coach Mark Mickan sought from his players. If they were to make a statement they were ready to challenge the Bulldogs for title glory.
We needed a good response because the players were really disappointed in themselves last week," Mickan said.
"That was the pleasing part - they played the game right out. Their (Tigers) intensity around the ball was very good for the duration.
"It is just good to play well and put a good game together. As a reinforcement for the players, mentally as much as anything these days, that is their standard and what they have got to aspire to again."
Glenelg will take a bucket load of confidence out of the game, but how do you judge its effort?
Make no mistake, the Tigers were impressive. But as emphatic as Glenelg was in cruising into the grand final, the Double Blues were disgraceful.
They lacked heart for the contest - it's as simple as that. Sturt was brushed aside in a manner which again puts the spotlight on its brittleness in finals. The credibility from last week's 71-point thrashing of Norwood in the first semi-final has been erased.
"They (Central District and Glenelg) are the two sides which deserve to play in the grand final," Sturt coach Rick Macgowan said. "They play finals-type football, they love the contested ball, love the collisions and they give it everything no matter what the contest."
The signs were ominous just a minute into the clash when Glenelg rover Matthew Bode snapped truly for the opening goal.
A push-and-shove between players then developed just 20m from the Tigers' goal. It was all harmless - but disturbing for Sturt fans was the fact three Double Blues were grossly outnumbered by about eight Tigers. Where was their support?
The incident was a summation of the game. Glenelg was never going to take a backward step and it refused to deviate from supporting team-mates.
The Glenelg spark - as has been the case all year - was provided by tireless ruckman Trevor Cranston.
His midfield mates Adam Fisher and Ben Kane dominated with Sturt big guns Luke Crane, Jade Sheedy and Adam Thomson having little impact.
The return of Paul Sherwood to the Tigers' defence enabled Ruory Kirkby to be switched back to the forward line and he posed a double threat with strong-marking Todd Grima.
Glenelg, aided by a free kick count of 12-4, blew the game apart in the second term when it nailed six goals and conceded just one.
Twice Sturt's Ken Farmer Medallist Brant Chambers was benched. Tigers defender Sam Rudolph was his typical resolute self but the shocking delivery into attack gave Chambers no chance.
The bottom line is the majority wearing the Double Blues jumper did not put their bodies on the line, a necessity in the major round.
"We were uncompetitive in the 50-50 contests," Macgowan said. "We spoke about their strengths, winning the contested ball, accountability - we hoped we could challenge in that area."
Macgowan was asked whether the loss was a more disappointing exit than last year when beaten by Glenelg in the elimination final. His response: "Definitely."
Courtesy of The Advertiser
Story by Warren Partland