Point Cook Centrals stun Werribee Districts

Point Cook Centrals produced the upset of the WRFL season when it beat the previously undefeated Werribee Districts on Saturday. Here were the key factors in the result.

Many WRFL followers have regarded Point Cook Centrals as the best promoted team in years in season 2023.

Now they’ve got the result to prove it.

The Sharks stunned Division 1 premiership favourites Werribee Districts, 13.11 (89) to 12.11 (83), on Saturday afternoon ending the visitors unbeaten run in the process.

Throughout the season, last year’s Division 2 premiers have pushed some of the best sides in the competition often undone by “lapses”.

Sharks coach Dean Chambers said it was simply “reward for effort”.

“We’ve got blood on our knuckles from knocking on the door that many times this season and we’ve managed to break through it,” he said.

“Credit to the boys because knowing we’ve been so close and not getting those wins can get you done sometimes. It happened against Altona the week before, we were up by about 30 points early in the third but let it slip.

“We took the lessons from that game and put it into place. Last week we spoke about the group taking ownership out on the ground when the opposition got a little bit of a run on and they definitely responded to that challenge.”

Point Cook Centrals’ Nathan Williams. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Chambers described the past week as the start of his side’s 2024 pre-season saying the Sharks were using the last month of the year as a platform for next year.

“We want to have a strong platform to build off heading into next year and this was a good starting point,” he said.

“The playing group has driven improvement themselves. About six weeks ago, they started up a skills group where they arrive 20 minutes before training and go through their own mini sessions. Those are the little things that will helped us get better.

“We want to be playing an exciting brand of footy, the easiest thing to do would be put numbers behind the footy but we want to test ourselves.”

The Sharks’ backline was impressive in the six-point win at the weekend with Josh Grech named best afield while Kurt Mayne was also impressive.

Lukmain Haddara, who spent time with Richmond’s VFL team, put together a brilliant performance with 35 touches and a goal.

Harrison Minnett and Joshua Gerolemou were also impressive as Daniel Rosenzweig led the way with four goals.

“Districts were plus 16 on inside 50s, our back six held up very well,” Chambers said.

“We played some of our younger guys on their better players because that’s the best way to learn what it takes to be the best team. Going forward, we made it clear we couldn’t be bombing the ball out of stoppages because (Sean) Gregory does such a good job of intercepting the ball.

“We wanted to be harder for longer and that’s what we managed to do.”

Point Cook Centrals will now next face Caroline Springs as Districts aim to bounce back against Hoppers Crossing.

MATCH SUMMARY

Point Cook Centrals 13.11 (89) def. Werribee Districts 12.11 (83)

Point Cook Centrals

Goals: D. Rosenzweig 4, D. Strnak 3, L. Haddara, L. Grant, J. Gerolemou, H. Minett, E. Haddara, C. Young

Best: J. Grech, H. Minett, J. Gerolemou, H. Shade, D. Rosenzweig, M. Pritchard

Werribee Districts

Goals: T. Lee 4, J. Mould 2, A. Panayi 2, J. Fletcher 2, T. Jenkins, D. Viojo-Rainbow

Best: M. Luxford, A. Alabakis, C. Gilboy, J. Fletcher, L. Smith, J. Puli