The Tigers probably got their best team on the park for the season while Tanunda were without leading young gun playmakers Tom Schiller and Scott Rogasch who were replaced by even less inexperienced duo of Daniel Schilling and Josh Oliver.

Central managed to stay within touch on the scoreboard for three out of the four quarters but the Magpies’ breeze-assisted four-goal first quarter lead was never headed and slightly extended at every change.

Gawler Central’s score was only 10 points off being the highest score against Tanunda this season and their losing margin was the best, excepting a wet day swim through at Kapunda, by just three points. This is scant joy for the Gawler Central hierarchy who along with the rest of the competition must wonder where the Magpie ‘achilles heel’ is. At this stage they seem the complete unit - fit, balanced, four-quarter competitive and immensely talented.

Tanunda’s better players didn’t come from their key position players where Gawler Central did a reasonable job of containment.

Ben Newberry, Malcolm Greenwood, Jason Neindorf and the Underwood brothers controlled the ball at ground level while newcomer Matthew Elson kept Scott Hahn to two goals. Leading full forward Alex Kennedy kicked his match average of six goals.

Full forward Brendon Niklaus gave the Tigers some future hope with four goals. Run-with players Jake Asher and Andrew Frackowski were able to run off their direct opponents at times, while Kirk Heberle held his own in the ‘class’ department. Graham Cooke was the pick of the Gawler Central defenders.