Game #961, 23/9/2007 Second Semi Final @ Adelaide Oval
Centrals 10.16(76) def. North 7.14(56)

Centrals has re-written the record books by beating North in the 2007 2nd semi final. No club has ever won 8 2nd semi finals in a row. No club has ever contested 8 grand finals in a row. It's official: clubs of the future will be referring to the records held by Centrals, not Port!

The skill level was below par from both sides. Centrals can blame 3 weeks without a game of footy. I don't know what North's excuse would be. Lawry had a shocker. He dropped 3 marks that he would normally swallow and missed 3 shots on goal from 15-20 metres out! But he was not alone. A number of players were well below their best. Even Callinan, who never misses, was missing goals from point blank range! For North, Gill was hilarious as he sprayed the ball all over the joint. Not to mention his constant leading from 40 metres out to give him a 60-metre shot at goal. As a centrals supporter, I breathed a sigh of relief every time a pass hit Gill on the chest.

Many of North's goals were from free kicks in front of goal, whilst the Dogs were scoring from running play. So even with North leading on the scoreboard, it was only a matter of time before their major source of scoring opportunities (ie. the umpires) dried up. The Dogs were looking the dominant side as they wiped out North's 2 goal lead to pull even at 3-quarter-time. You could just tell North were dead by then and some of us even joked about a 10-goal blow-out, similar to the job we did on Norwood this year. But the usual silky skills of the Dogs remained absent. Instead, superior fitness and desire got the boys over the line.

Probably the funniest moment of the day was before the game started. North supporters had a banner which read: "Let's hear it U REDS". Yet another attempt to convince us of their invented history? It was funny because as they raised their banner all you could hear was a chant of CEEENTRAAALS. I was also quite surprised how quiet and less visible the North supporters on the hill were in general. Sure, they had nothing to cheer about, but they really were VERY quiet all day. This was in extreme contrast to the Centrals lads behind the goals who sang and chanted all through the game. I went to the North game last week against the Eagles and the North presence was much more visible and audible. Perhaps they only turn up and make some noise when they're sure of a win?

Stats:
Centrals has beaten North Adelaide on the last 4 occasions at Adelaide Oval.
Centrals has beaten North on all 3 occasions they have met in finals.
Centrals has now achieved a record 8 2nd Semi Final wins in a row.
Centrals has now achieved a record 8 Grand Final appearances in a row.
Centrals has won the last 9 2nd Semi Finals they have played in: 1996, 2000-2007.