North Geelong slam on 11 first quarter goals against Werribee Centrals in round 9 GDFNL win
A week after their first loss of the season, North Geelong stepped out with the perfect response to leave rivals Werribee Centrals stunned. Plus, the hard conversations which followed for Centrals.
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You’re unlikely to find a better quarter in country footy.
A blistering opening term from GDFNL ladder-leaders North Geelong – who slammed on the first 10 goals of the day against Werribee Centrals in an 11-goal-to-one first quarter – was the cornerstone of an eventual 26.15 (171) to 10.9 (69) battering at Osborne Park.
For Magpies coach and Cats legend Peter Riccardi, there had been a sense something brewing from his team after a tough week on the track following their first loss of the season to reigning premier Thomson.
But even Riccardi admits he had no idea just how hot his side would start the game.
“It just felt good (in the rooms), and to come out there and kick 10 or 11 goals was absolutely amazing,” Riccardi said.
“It’s probably the best quarter as a coach through my career, I don’t think a side’s ever kicked 11 goals.
“It was everything, we were winning it in the middle, we were linking up and hitting up forwards, and the forwards went to work.
“When you’re having relentless entries, it makes it easy to score.
“We had a hard review (after Thomson) on Tuesday night … usually goes for 15 minutes, it went for 45.
“But the response is what you get, like todays.”
Riccardi’s son and former Cats rookie Osca starred with six goals – including three in the first quarter – while Mitch Habib and John Fazio finished with five apiece as Luke Parker – who won the league’s reserves goalkicking award last year – got on the board early with two goals in his second senior game for the Magpies since 2022.
While Parker had been unable to train due to work last year, Riccardi said the club legend had regularly been on the track this year and deserved an opportunity to step back up to the senior level.
“He’s put his hand up, he was probably our best forward last week and doesn’t look out of sorts today,” Riccardi said.
With the game effectively put to bed by quarter time, Riccardi said the plan turned to “winning the next quarter” as a top 2 blockbuster against Belmont Lions awaits the Magpies next round.
“Start scratch and win the second quarter, then the third … we won all four quarters so happy with that,” Riccardi said.
‘Frustrating’ performance sparks tough love
In contrast to a jubilant North Geelong rooms, the loss sparked tough conversations in a closed Werribee Centrals’ room post-match.
Playing coach Rhyce Prismall described the performance as “frustrating”, considering his side had started to gain form with four wins from their last five games.
“We were pretty harsh on each other after the game,” Prismall said.
“A bit shell-shocked early … it’s one of those ones, I was talking to the coaches, it’s hard to actually pinpoint what we did poorly but we just couldn’t get our hands of the footy and they were just hungrier.
“We were winning the hit-outs but not winning the clearances and they were just scoring every time they went inside 50.”
The loss sees last year’s finalists down in ninth with a 4-6 record following a series of narrow losses to start the season, with a tough fixture against reigning premier Thomson to come this week.
Prismall said they wouldn’t dwell or over review the North Geelong game, instead putting it on individuals to look at their own efforts.
“If we worry about this for the next seven days, we’ll probably come out against Thomson not being in a good headspace,” he said.
Star forward Carmelo Saliba (rolled ankle) ended the game on the bench, while Regan Vesty (shoulder) played out of the goalsquare for the second half.
Max Murdoch and Daryl Chesterman are in line to return against the Tigers, while Jack Stephenson (ankle) is a “50-50” chance to play.
‘Wait and see’ on Osca’s VFL prospects
Riccardi said the ball was in son’s Osca’s court whether he returns to VFL level.
The younger Riccardi has made five appearance for the Magpies since stepping back from Geelong’s VFL program last month to rediscover his love for the game.
Riccardi said, as a father he’d love to see Osca return to the Cats’ program, but as a coach, also valued him in his side such is his impact.
“It’d be a shame to lose him but I wouldn’t be too upset, but again he’s a big boy and he’ll make that decision,” he said.
“But even if he goes back now and trains with the VFL, it doesn’t mean he’s not going to play here, he probably wouldn’t play (VFL) straight away, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”
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