Based at Elizabeth in the City of Playford about 25 km north of Adelaide, South Australia, the club's development zones include the outer Adelaide northern suburbs of Salisbury, Elizabeth, Golden Grove, Greenwith, Township of Gawler, One Tree Hill and Barossa Valley Districts.

[2] In November 1936 a deputation from the Gawler Football Association meet with delegates of the SANFL regarding a proposal to admitting a team.

The proposal was rejected by the league on the grounds of costs to the other clubs and that the question of Gawler's admission be held in abeyance for a year.

[3][4] During the mid-1950s a team from the newly created and developing satellite City of Elizabeth (to the outer north of Adelaide between the older townships of Salisbury and Gawler) was absent from the SANFL ranks.

Fred Rogers, Secretary of the Gawler Football League and heavily involved with the local junior competition, made an unofficial approach to SANFL President Thomas Seymour Hill regarding an admission of a League club from the growing Northern suburbs of Adelaide.

For the inaugural season in the Reserves, Charlie Pratt [5] a key member of the strong West Torrens sides of the late 1940s and early to mid 1950s was appointed coach.

[citation needed] To this day, many Central supporters carry Union Jack flags at matches and sport UK soccer paraphernalia.

[citation needed] The colours were also influenced by Footscray in the VFL, the new club's inaugural patron, and the same Bulldog emblem was adopted for its working-class connotations.

[citation needed] With this British background, Centrals also have a reputation for their fans singing and chanting in the manner of UK Association Football supporters.

[citation needed] During the Premiership years from 2000 – 2010, Centrals enjoyed healthy home crowds, with the highest being 7,329 against Sturt in 2006.

West Adelaide 1961 Premiership Player and 1962 Margarey Medallist Ken Eustice was appointed as Central's Captain and Coach for the 1964 Season.

The Bullogs played and won its first-ever final (1971 First semi-final) against Sturt after trailing by 5pts at 3 quarter time by 27 points.

However, before a crowd of 42,909, the Bulldogs lost the preliminary final to Port Adelaide by 29 points after scores were level at half time.

The following week, Centrals after trailing by 19pts at 3 quarter time defeated the 1979 Grand Finalists South Adelaide by 1 pt.

In 1984, Kevin Cowboy Neale a former St Kilda Premiership player from 1966 replaced Daryl Hicks as Coach.

Central's Captain Roger Girdham won the toss and controversially chose to kick into the wind in the first quarter.

Unfortunately for the Centrals, they trailed by just 5 points—3.6 (24) to 3.11 (29)—at half-time but were outplayed in the second half and beaten 13.16 (94) to 6.10 (46) in front of 45,786 spectators, and Alan Stewart left the club immediately afterward, ironically taking up a recruitment position with Port Adelaide in time for their entry into the Australian Football League for the 1997 Season.

Former Sydney Swans star player Stephen Wright (brother of former player Michael Wright) became league coach in 1996, and Centrals finished minor premiers for the 3rd time (15 wins, 5 losses) and for the first time defeated Port Adelaide in a finals match after 8 successive losses (2nd Semi-Final by 24 points), which saw Centrals make their second Grand Final, once again facing Port Adelaide (who defeated Norwood in the preliminary final by just 4 points after a late goal).

Coach Peter Jonas joined St Kilda under SA and VFL/AFL Legend Malcolm Blight and inaugural Premiership captain Daniel Hulm retired at age 25 due to a persistent groin injury and having secured a job in London.

Personal tragedy struck when Danny was killed instantly after being hit by a fast train at Surbiton Station in London on 13 March 2001.

Ultimately Thomas didn't have to face the tribunal as the Match Review Committee, who viewed the video evidence from the ABC telecast, deemed he had no case to answer but by that time the votes were locked away leading many, including Thomas and the CDFC believe he was robbed of his second medal win.

[7] By finishing minor premiers, Centrals earned themselves a week's rest before their Second Semi-final match on 25 September.

The Bulldogs easily defeated Norwood 12.5 (77) to 4.9 (33) in the 2nd semi to move into their record 12th consecutive SANFL Grand Final and their 14th since 1995.

2015 – After being out of the Top 5 all season, Centrals made another late dash and qualified by percentage for the Finals by defeating 5th place South Adelaide on their home ground in the last round.

Norwood in the Elimination Final (ending their quest for a 4th successive Flag) and Port Adelaide by 5 pts in the 1st Semi.

Centrals lost to Sturt in the 1st Semi Final after trailing by 2 pts at 3 quarter time in what was a close game all day by 7 points.

2023 - Central qualified for finals for the first time in 5 years in 4th place after defeating Port Adelaide in the last minor round game.

Players from Centrals have won the Jack Oatey Medal for best on ground during the League Grand Final on nine occasions, with Chris Gowans winning the award twice.

Source:[11] (Best on ground – ANZAC Day Grand Final re-match) Four players from Centrals have won the Ken Farmer Medal for being the leading goal kicker at the end of the minor round season.

[23] They are: Kevin Scarce – retired Royal Australian Navy officer and 34th Governor of South Australia John Platten – Brownlow Medal and Magarey Medal winning footballer, who played for Hawthorn and Central District Tony Pilkington – 5AA Radio Personality Professor Kevin Norton – Professor of Exercise Science in the School of Health Sciences at the University of South Australia Ray Grigg – Mayor of Walkerville and former RAA president Rod Keane – former GM Holden Executive Director of Manufacturing Darren Lehmann – former player and head coach of the Australia national cricket team