Laird labels persistence as Doggies greatest weapon Central Districts footballer Josh Glenn is among a host of young players helping to lead the Dogs mid-season resurgance. CENTRAL District's reign on the SANFL looked over when it sat on the bottom of the ladder with four consecutive losses in April. Club legends Chris and James Gowans had retired and premiership stars Eddie Sansbury, Jason Sutherland and Andrew Hayes had left the kennel in the off-season. But fast forward a month and the Dogs have broken into the top five and emerged as a genuine premiership threat again. They have responded to the four losses with four wins on the trot. Seven-times premiership coach Roy Laird said his side's latest win, a 35-point victory against in-form Woodville-West Torrens in tough conditions at Elizabeth Oval on June 1, was their best performance for 2013. The Dogs face a red-hot North Adelaide at Prospect this Sunday and, although there is no talk of a 14th-straight finals appearance just yet, Laird said the players were confident they could play deep into September. Youngsters such as Josh Waldhuter, 20, Matt Prior, 23, Josh Glenn, 19, and recruit Seb Guilhaus, 25, are standing tall, helping to fill the void left by the departure of the Gowans twins and others, Laird said. Guilhaus leads the competition in hit-outs while Wuldhuter and Glenn are providing valuable support for co-captains Brad Symes and Paul Thomas in defence and midfield. Glenn, 19, made his League debut in round one against West Adelaide. But the Elizabeth Grove resident's career very nearly was over before it started after he walked away from the Ponderosa in 2011 following a stellar season with the Dogs' under-18 side. He said personal struggles, which he did not elaborate on, had resulted in him losing passion for the game. "I was stressed and needed a break," he said. A couple of mates got stuck into me and I ended up playing with Elizabeth. Glenn played the majority of last season with the division four amateur league club but, by his own admission, something was missing. I wasn't playing the best football and it was bringing me down. Something changed and one day I decided I wanted to have a crack and play at the best possible level. I organised a meeting with Roy, and I was a bit scared actually that I wouldn't get another go. Roy said he doesn't normally give people second chances but I'm glad he has given me one. I want to repay them for the opportunity. Laird took a punt and eight months later Glenn has played every game and is making a name for himself across the half-back flank. Laird said he had been impressed with how his inexperienced side, including Glenn, had responded to its poor start to be fifth ahead of its bye on the weekend. He said the side's defensive pressure and strong tackling had been keys to the resurgence. The players have persisted really well and ever since the second half against Port Adelaide (May 5) we physically have lifted. Before then we hadn't been impressive and were allowing the opposition back into games.