Good to hear Les Stevens take a thinly veiled swipe at KG and the disgraceful coverage and potrayal he and other radio geese give of the SANFL. Time to retire KG and take your sidekick with you! And nice to hear that West End will be releasing a commemorative beer can if (when!) Centrals achieves 3 flags in a row next year.

Sizzling sausages, bouncey castles, face painting, kids galore and very seedy-looking Premiership players signing autographs - that's your typical CDFC Family Day!

3/10/2004 Centrals 23.15(153) def. Eagles 4.4(28)

Might, mighty Centrals has won the 2004 Grand Final with the most incredible footballing display this little supporter has ever seen!! Central's powerful, 4-quarter domination of the Eagles debunked the theory that 2 games in 6 weeks would leave them underdone for a Grand Final. In fact, it's hard to recall the last time Centrals totally, absolutely and completely dominated a game for almost EVERY minute of EVERY quarter in ANY game!! This has to be a credit to Roy Laird and his program of preparation for the finals. Well done! And congrats to Nathan Steinberner on taking out the 2004 Jack Oatey medal!

The Eagles purely and simply did not turn up to play today. I'm sure this will be analysed in great depth over the coming weeks. Were they over-confident? Did they believe all the journalists and football experts who were convinced the Eagles would win this one? Were they just knackered after their game against Sturt? Whatever the reason, WHO CARES!!!

The records really tumbled in this game:

HIGHEST SCORE
This is Central's highest ever score in any type of final! It’s also the highest score in a Grand Final since 1969 and the highest ever score against the Eagles in the history of WWTFC!

HIGHEST WINNING MARGIN
The winning margin of 125 points is Central's highest ever winning margin against the Eagles and Central's highest winning margin in any type of final. This smashes the previous record of a 73-point thumping of Port Adelaide back in the 2000 Qualifying Final. It’s also the highest EVER winning margin in a Grand Final in SANFL history! WHAT A RECORD TO HOLD!

LOWEST SCORE AGAINST CENTRALS
The Eagles' score of 4.4(28) is their lowest score in a final, but it's also the lowest score EVER kicked against Centrals in the history of CDFC! This beats the previous lowest ever score against Centrals of 30 points – equally held by Sturt, Port and South.

FINALS WINS
Centrals has now played the Eagles in 6 finals matches and achieved 6 wins. Considering how good the Eagles have been over recent years, it seems incredible that they've never managed a single finals win over Centrals.

PREMIERSHIP COUNT
Centrals has now won 4 Premierships - the same as Glenelg. But since we're only 41 years old and Glenelg is 85, we move above Glenelg on the all-time Premiership ladder. :)

So what of the immediate future? Who will challenge Centrals in 2005? Anyone? And can the Eagles bounce back? They’d have to be completely shattered. I wouldn’t be surprised if efforts were made to have the Eagles removed from the SANFL for bringing the game into disrepute with their insipid grand final performance.The upside of that would be the resulting 8-team competition with no bye.

As for this supporter, I was too tired/spent/exhausted after the game to drive out to NAP for the after-GF party! Now THAT is an embarrassment! I guess nerves and 2 hours sleep catch up on you eventually. But I'll be taking the kids out to NAP for the family day celebrations tomorrow. And don’t forget the Chimney Unveiling on Tuesday!

My commiserations to the true Eagles supporters out there (both of you) who had to suffer that embarrassment.

19/9/2004 Centrals 12.9(81) def. Eagles 12.7(79)

Centrals made its 5th Grand Final in a row after defeating the Eagles by 2 points in the 2nd Semi Final. The Dogs led for most of the day by a few points before establishing a 25 point lead at 3-quarter time. But with a couple of umpire-assisted goals to the Eagles and a couple of undisciplined 25-metre penalties, the Eagles got back to within 2 points as the final siren blew. The Dogs can now sit back and watch the Eagles and Sturt thump the shit out of each other to decide who gets to play the champs this year!

4/9/2004 Centrals 16.14(110) def. West Adelaide 7.7(49)

A comprehensive 61 point win over last year's Grand Final opponent. And now for our 5th Second Semi Final in a row!

21/8/2004 Centrals 22.15(147) def. Port 10.2(62)

In their 5th largest ever win over Port, Centrals practically secured their 4th consecutive Minor Premiership. It's a shame the Dogs took their foot off the pedal in the 2nd quarter, because the 'Highest Winning Margin v Port' record looked like it would be broken. Well at least one 'minor' record was broken: 2 points is Port's lowest ever points tally against Centrals. :)

14/8/2004 Centrals 14.4(88) def. Sturt 8.8(56)

The Dogs continued their great form with a convincing win over a determined Sturt. Sturt made a challenge in the 3rd quarter with the aid of the breeze, but the Dogs steadied in the final term to post a 32 point victory. And now for the part I love: The STATS! The win extends Central's dominance over Sturt at Sturt's home ground to 20 years! Sturt's last win over Centrals at Unley was back in 1985. And in the overall head-to-head stakes, Centrals have now played Sturt 95 times for a 47-48 win/loss record (no draws). We're now only 1 win away from finally overhauling Sturt for the first time in CDFC history (as we did with Glenelg last week). This is amazing considering we lost our first 16 matches against Sturt and didn't manage to beat them until 1971.

7/8/2004 Centrals 20.12(132) def. Glenelg 12.7(79)

After Glenelg's near upset against Sturt and win over the Eagles in the last 2 weeks, some were interested to see if Glenelg would be a threat to the mighty Doggies. Yeah right. :) Central's record winning streak against Glenelg is extended to 13 games. Centrals has now played Glenelg 100 times for a 50-50 win/loss record (no draws). This is the first time in the history of CDFC that we've been level with Glenelg in the head-to-head stakes. And hopefully by the end of the year we'll draw level with Glenelg on Premierships too!

31/7/2004 Centrals 25.9(159) def. South 7.7(49)

The Dogs produced their highest score and highest winning margin of the season in destroying South Adelaide at Noarlunga to the tune of 110 points. Looks like our warming-up for finals footy has begun!

24/7/2004 Centrals 17.14(116) def. Norwood 9.12(66)

Another convincing win to the Dogs which was marked by the debut of another junior Shannon Hurn (son of ex-Centrals player William).

17/7/2004 Centrals 16.18(114) def. North 8.10(58)

An unconvincing Bulldogs team eventually made easy work of the Roosters after trailing by 3 goals in the 2nd quarter. At one stage during the 3rd quarter the free kick count was 16-4 in favour of North - this probably helped keep North in the game. The slick, skilled running game of the dogs seemed to be missing in the first half, but patches of it appeared in the 2nd half.

Centrals extends its record winning streak against North to 18 games with an average winning margin of 64 points! North has not beaten Centrals since 1997. And North's last victory at NAP was back in 1992! Sure, I post this info every time we play North, but don't you love hearing it repeated?

Also, it is believed North's Hargaves was reported for kicking James Gowans.

On a lighter note, the game was officiated by the world's smallest umpire who looked like a dwarf next to Marco Bello! And when this umpire was near a certain North Adelaide player, "Lord Of The Rings and Frodo" came to the mind of a certain Centrals supporter. Check out the picture below and judge for yourself.

3/7/2004 Eagles 10.4(64) def. Centrals 8.10(58)

A full-strength Eagles side managed another slender win over a slightly undermanned (and some would say underdone) Centrals side. The Dogs certainly kicked themselves out of the game, but this game was always going to be close with a win to either side of 6 points not meaning much at this stage of the season. Centrals and the Eagles are the only 2 sides in the comp at the moment and this year's grand final between these two modern-day powerhouses should be a cracker!

26/6/2004 Centrals 13.11(89) def. Port 12.6(78)

You're always in for a good old-fashioned stoush when Centrals play Port! A spirited Port, fighting for their season, had a red-hot go at the mighty Bulldogs - An absolute cracker of a game and just the hard match practice Centrals has sorely needed. Thanks Port! Centrals now reclaims top spot and has a chance to consolidate it next week against the Eagles.

19/6/2004 Centrals 12.14(86) def. West 7.5(47)

After leading by 3 goals at 3-quarter time, the Dogs piled on 5 last-term goals to win by a comfortable 39 points.
Images provided by Sam Snook

14/6/2004 Glenelg 7.7(49) def. by Centrals 12.13(85)

The Dogs had this game won by half time and then went into cruise control. This extends our longest winning streak against Glenelg to 12 games. Centrals has now played Glenelg 99 times for a 49 - 50 win/loss record. The next game between these teams should see Centrals even up the all-time head-to-head result against Glenelg for the first time in the history of the club. Incredibly, Glenelg has managed only 2 wins over Centrals in over a decade, whilst Centrals has racked up 26 wins over Glenelg.
Images provided by Sam Snook taken from his mobile phone.

5/6/2004 Sturt 11.11(77) def. Centrals 4.12(36)

Sturt were pumped up for this game after being severely embarrassed by the Dogs to the tune of 58 points in Round 5. This time around, Sturt took full advantage of a Centrals side which was not prepared for a friday night match after a bye. As coach Roy Laird put it: "...we gave the initiative to a side who were really hungry to beat us and they didn't relent. Good sides are going to make you pay when you don't come mentally ready to play." Poor kicking for goal and over-finessing was a problem. Centrals had kicked 12 points and one solitary goal by the final break. And I reckon most of those points should have been goals!

22/5/2004 Centrals 17.7(109) def. South 10.4(64)

The Dogs celebrated their 5th consecutive win against South with a 45 point thrashing. The winning margin should have been much higher but the Dogs, once again, took their foot off the pedal when the result was beyond question. Centrals has the bye next weekend, which should allow good preparation for the Friday night clash with Sturt on June 4th @ Adelaide Oval. Don't forget the player presentations will be at the Oxford Hotel after the Sturt match.

15/5/2004 Norwood 11.14(80) def. by Centrals 22.9(141)

Another powerful display from the Bulldogs against a team likely to be competing for the wooden spoon. The 61 point margin is Central's 2nd highest ever winning margin at Norwood Oval. Centrals has now won the last 3 encounters against Norwood.

8/5/2004 North 7.12(54) def. by Centrals 22.11(143)

After leading by 76 points at half-time, Centrals took their foot off the neck of North to allow North to get away with a loss of ONLY 89 points. It could have been much worse for the hapless chooks. And now for the stats: Centrals has now won the last 17 encounters against North - this is the longest winning streak Centrals has had against any team. North has not beaten Centrals since 1997! This game also stands as Central's 2nd highest ever winning margin @ Prospect Oval.

1/5/2004 Centrals 18.10(118) def. Sturt 9.6(60)

Central's staggering record of dominance over Sturt continued with a comprehensive belting of the Unley boys at NAP Oval. Centrals have now won 9 of the last 10 encounters with Sturt.

26/4/2004 Centrals 19.9(123) def. West 10.8(68)

Centrals are back on top of the ladder after a convincing win over last year's grand finalist. Centrals is the only team in SANFL history to have won 4 Anzac Day Grand Final re-matches in a row!

17/4/2004 Centrals 9.15(69) Eagles 11.11(77)

After embarrassing the Eagles with ease in the first quarter, a whitewash was expected. But the Dogs cruised for the remaining 3 quarters and suffered from poor goalkicking - which allowed the Eagles to steal an unlikely win. Disappointing to say the least.

10/4/2004 Centrals 23.11(149) def Glenelg 9.6(60)

Centrals continued its dominance over Glenelg with another comprehensive thrashing. This extends the winning streak against Glenelg to 11 matches. Glenelg has managed only 2 victories over Centrals in 27 attempts over the last decade and a bit.