WRFL: Werribee Districts too good for Caroline Springs in preliminary final
Werribee Districts is just one win away from creating a significant piece of club history after storming into the WRFL Division 1 grand final.
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Werribee Districts is just two hours of footy away from creating history.
The Tigers are through to the Western Region Football League Division 1 grand final after stunning minor premier Caroline Springs 16.8 (104) to 7.14 (56) in the preliminary final on Saturday afternoon.
It means they’ll have a shot at their first WRFL senior premiership since crossing from the VAFA ahead of the 2015 season.
They went onto lose the 2015 decider against Deer Park.
That season followed a similar path to 2022 with Districts having come from fourth to reach the decider, although they’ll be chasing a much happier ending.
The club’s last premiership was the 2010 Division 1 VAFA success.
Coach Chris Gilham is aware of the “huge opportunity” which lays in front of his players.
“It’s unbelievable, we’ve had a great month of footy,” he said.
“It’s a massive effort for our club to have three sides (under 18s, reserves and seniors) all playing in a grand final. We’ve built some really solid form across the last few weeks and the boys have been riding that momentum.
“Our leaders have stood up and shown the way forward. Our younger and less experienced guys are standing up. Our young backline has been sensational.
“I’ve said it before, we don’t really have the star names like other sides, but we’ve got a group who wants to play and fight for each other.
“I can’t fault what this group has done. I’m absolutely rapt.”
Districts produced arguably it’s best quarter all season in the second term kicking eight goals to three to snatch a 16-point lead at the main break.
And it was a momentum shift which saw Gilham’s side run away with the contest.
They kicked 7.6 to Caroline Springs’ 1.10 in the second half.
Dillon Viojo-Rainbow was enormous in the middle with a best on ground display while young gun Harrison White continued to cement his place as a rising star.
Ben McMahon took advantage of Lakers’ ruckman Liam Read to dominate in the ruck while Lee Johnston, Max Ryan and Alex Alabakis were also impressive.
Chris Molivas, Daniel Nielson and Lachie Rainbow all finished with three goals.
“That second quarter was special. We only kicked six goals in both games against them earlier in the year so it was quite the turnaround,” Gilham said.
“It was the first time we had been able to put their defence under some real pressure and thankfully we took our opportunities.
“They were really on top in key areas after the first quarter and although we were behind we thought we were able to absorb a lot of their pressure.
“Once we got on top you could just see the confidence grow.”
Districts will now meet Altona in next weekend’s decider at Avalon Airport Oval.
In their previous meetings this year, both sides have won one game each.
“I’ve got nothing but respect for Altona,” Gilham said.
“They’re very similar to us, built on homegrown players with a few recruits added in. They’ve got strengths will aim to nullify and they’ll be doing to the same with us.
“We’ll enjoy the next week and look forward to the challenge.”
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