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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-13 Daily Xml
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CENTRAL DISTRICT FOOTBALL CLUB

The Hon. L. STEVENS (Little Para) (16:07): From time to time in this place, particularly in the late 1990s and early 2000s, I spoke about the Central District Football Club. I have not done so in recent years because the club has continued to dominate and go from strength to strength in terms of its performance in the South Australian National Football League. However, today I am going to speak again about the club because its recent victory in the SANFL premiership broke a number of records for the club and deserves some recognition in this forum.

Everyone who is a follower of Australian Rules Football in South Australia would know that in the recent grand final Centrals defeated Sturt with a score of 13.14 to 7.12. I understand that they did this in front of the largest crowd for 10 years at a SANFL grand final.

The good thing about this game, and what was achieved by Centrals in winning it, is that Centrals has broken all records in terms of a South Australian club winning eight premierships in a decade, appearing in all grand finals in a decade and going into each grand final without having to play in the preliminary final. It is an outstanding achievement.

It is overwhelming for everyone who was there that day and all supporters of Central District to realise that it will take some time for any other club to match the club's achievement. I pay tribute to the coach, Roy Laird, and the players, who were led by co-captains Matthew Slade and Paul Thomas, and the Jack Oatey Medallist Trent Goodrem for a wonderful effort and a wonderful game.

The win is even more significant because it has occurred in Centrals' 50th anniversary year. It is a year in which the club has focused on its journey over 50 years. The dominance of the past decade has come with a lot of blood, sweat and tears over the preceding 40 years.

I draw members' attention to a fantastic publication called Poms to Premiers—the History of the Central District Football Club. It is an illustrated story of the Central District Football Club. The book, which is written by Robert Laidlaw and former player Robin Mulholland, catalogues the journey of the Central District Football Club to where it is today.

There are many good things in this book, including a foreword by our current Governor, His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce. In his foreword he says:

My association with the club started in the mid 1960s, mainly as a bench warmer in the under 15s side. Shortly after I left to join the Navy, dad became a colours steward and served with the club for the next decade, finishing under Gary Window as the league manager and committee member. Since my return to South Australia it has been a great privilege to continue my association with the Bulldogs as the club ambassador.

I have had a close association with the club in the nearly 16 years I have been a member of this house. I must say that I am full of admiration for the struggle that the club has endured, and the blood, sweat and tears that have been expended to reach this wonderful highlight.

Mr PENGILLY: Mr Speaker, I draw your attention to the state of the house.

A quorum having been formed:

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