GDFNL 2024: Werribee Centrals knock off North Geelong as coach lauds selfless Centurians

This club lost their last five games last year, and now they are in the top three. Their coach believes an important difference has helped them start the season strongly.

Werribee Centrals are now 6-1 for the season. Picture: Mark Wilson

Werribee Centrals playing coach Rhyce Prismall credits his side’s selfless attitude for their promising start to the Geelong & District Football Netball League season.

The Centurians made it 6-1 after knocking off North Geelong by 29-points at Osborne Park, with a five-goal-to-one first quarter setting up the win.

Small forward Carmelo Saliba, who played in their colts side last year, impressed with four goals as prolific midfielder Michael Culliver and rebounding defender Jack Stephenson dominated.

Werribee Centrals had a 9-4 record last year before losing their last five matches of the season, with poor form, injuries and a difficult fixture run denying them a finals spot.

But they are in right in finals contention again in 2024, sitting two wins clear in third spot and behind East Geelong in second on percentage, albeit with a favourable fixture run early.

Prismall knows they will need to bring their A-game with a difficult month ahead, facing Thomson, the undefeated Belmont Lions, East Geelong and reigning premiers Inverleigh in their next four matches.

Carmelo Saliba kicked four goals. Picture: Mark Wilson

“We knew this year based on our fixture, we added half a dozen players and managed to retain sort of our whole playing list (that) we should be in a position, if we can remain injury-free, to set ourselves up to hopefully play finals,” Prismall said

“Now we have put ourselves in a really good win-loss ratio at 6-1 but we’re very realistic that our next four games are against four teams that will be in those final six spots.

“Really happy with how we’re going but we’re very realistic that we have got a few more tests on our way before we can really start thinking about finals.

“I think the players are driving a very selfless culture which we have been trying to instil for the last couple of years but I think it has finally clicked.

“It is very pleasing as a coach that the players are driving a very good internal standard of each other. Even our better players who are really, really good players, they are happy to be on the back foot if they have to be to benefit the team.”

Prismall is expecting several key players to return to the line-up in the coming weeks, including Brad Carlton who has won the club’s last three best-and-fairest awards, and Zechariah De Leon.

Their defence should also be bolstered by the return of recruit Keegan Gilbert and Ethan Gibson.

“We have got a couple of injuries at the moment but with our depth and our recruits we have been able to cover those injuries,” Prismall said.

Originally published as GDFNL 2024: Werribee Centrals knock off North Geelong as coach lauds selfless Centurians