Sturt's Bulldog blitz continues

Zac Milbank  The Advertiser

Sturt's Tristan Gum snaps at goal. Picture: Ray Titus Source: The Advertiser

SEPTEMBER'S sleeping giant has awoken.

Sturt may not yet be guaranteed a finals berth but the Double Blues can also snare the double chance after yesterday's grinding 15-point win against Central District at Unley.

''Based on what we've seen they should be more advanced on the premiership table,'' Central coach Roy Laird said, after his side lost to the Blues for the third time this season.

''But for whatever reason they're where they're at. They've got good on-ball (rotation), forward line and their defence was very solid today (yesterday). Across the board they are a very good team.''

Luke Norman's men need only defeat Woodville-West Torrens at Woodville next week while also relying on West Adelaide to topple Norwood at The Parade to sneak into third spot on the premiership ladder.

But whenever big things have been expected of Sturt this year, it has found away to shoot itself in the foot as evidenced by the round 18 loss to Port Adelaide.

''It is (a possibility) but we've just got to make sure we win next week,'' Norman said.

''We haven't beaten the Eagles this year so it's a great chance to go to Woodville and have a crack at them.''

The Double Blues certainly had a crack at the Dogs yesterday, not only making last year's premier appear slow but hitting in hard when the hard ball needed to be won.

Sturt's hardened bodies of Brad Vassal and Ben Nelson led the way in the clinches while Jon Giles continued his stunning form in the ruck, again proving a point against his former side with 26 hitouts, 17 disposals and two goals.

STURT 3.3 9.6 11.9 12.14 (86)
CENTRAL 1.3 3.5 7.10 10.11 (71)

BEST - Sturt: Giles, Gum, Vassal, McLeay, Cubillo, Herring, Nelson.

Central: Callinan, Thomas, Boyd, Lawry, Spurr.
SCORERS - Sturt: Herring 3.1, Giles, Vassal, Rischbieth, Gum 2.0, Johncock 1.0, Crane, Chambers 0.3, McIntyre 0.2, Bode, Nelson 0.1, rushed 0.3.

Central: Callinan 3.1, Boyd 2.1, Schell 1.2, Thomas, Hardy 1.1, Spurr, Havelberg 1.0, Dutschke 0.2, C. Gowans, Reichert 0.1, rushed 0.1.

INJURIES - Central: O'Hara (calf), Jenner (hamstring) withdrew from selected squad.

UMPIRES - R. Williams, G. Fila, L. Haussen.

CROWD - 3448 at House Brothers Oval, Unley.