WRFL 2019: Werribee Districts scores seventh win of Division 1 season
Werribee Districts is well placed at the halfway mark of the WRFL Division 1 home-and-away season, but one strong side is set to miss out on finals action.
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Werribee Districts has powered to the halfway mark of the WRFL Division 1 home-and-away season with an impressive 7-2 record.
But coach Chris Gilham is acutely aware any slip-ups in coming weeks could leave his team vulnerable.
The top-six teams are separated by just one game, meaning one strong side will be a spectator come finals.
“I think we’re definitely a better team on paper (than last year), but I think the other competitors are as well,” Gilham said.
“It’s a league that’s continuing to improve year in, year out, especially without the development league in the VFL. You’ve got access to players you didn’t before.
“But we were 7-2 last year and didn’t get to where we wanted to be. The challenge is to maintain it.
“A really good team is going to miss out on finals. It’s that tight and it’s great for the competition. It’s game on every week among the top six and Albion is obviously struggling, but everyone else is pretty competitive.”
The ladder has a familiar look about it, with Altona, Spotswood, Deer Park, Hoppers Crossing and the Tigers all in contention again.
St Albans, which sits fifth at 6-3, is the bolter after winning just four games in each of the past two seasons, having knocked off Deer Park and Altona in the past fortnight.
Werribee Districts’ only two defeats have come against the Lions and Hoppers and the club is on track to contest finals for a sixth consecutive year since crossing from the VAFA.
“We want to turn finals appearances into finals victories,” Gilham said.
“We haven’t won a final for the last couple (of years), so we want to be winning a final and see where that takes us. That’s our short-term goal.”
Werribee Districts swept aside Sunshine by 60 points away from home on Saturday, 16.16 (112) to 7.10 (52).
The visitors piled on five goals in the first 15 minutes and led by 44 points at the main break to kill the contest.
Their multitude of forward options was on display, with Cameron Lee, Trent Lee and Oscar Junker kicking three goals apiece and Chris Molivas and Connor Thar two each.
“We look like we’re going to have six or seven blokes kick 20-plus for the year,” Gilham said.
“To not rely on one or two avenues, which is sometimes easy to shut down for the opposition, we’ve got blokes who can bob up and kick two or three. It’s harder to match up on.”
The Tigers will next tackle struggling Albion away from home.
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