Werribee Centrals avenge last year’s heartbreaking one-goal grand final loss to beat old foe East Geelong in the GDFNL decider

A Werribee Centrals netball veteran has been labelled a “superstar” of the comp after a best-on-court display as an East Geelong rival admitted nerves got the better of her teammates.

It was closing in on three quarter time when premiership-winning Werribee Centrals coach Hayley Kennedy began to believe they had the GDFNL title sewn up.

While the buffer rarely got beyond four goals at St Albans Reserve against reigning premier East Geelong, the outsiders controlled the game for the majority of the match — noted for its fierce physicality at times with several players hitting the deck.

And while some players and coaches may not dwell on the past too much for motivation, Kennedy said a one-goal loss to the Eagles in the decider 12 months ago remained front of mind on Saturday.

“100 per cent,” Kennedy said when asked if redemption was a big motivator.

“They were really determined, they didn’t want to feel like they did last year when they walked away losing.

Werribee Centrals beat East Geelong 29-23 in the GDFNL A Grade netball grand final. Picture: Ben Cameron

With the team following a game plan of winning every quarter, Kennedy told the Geelong Advertiser it was “probably about the three quarter mark” when she first thought the premiership might be theirs.

“The game can change so quickly ... but I had I had faith they were going to keep going,” she said.

“All you need is a couple of turnovers, then you convert on those turnovers and they’ve got six goals.

Werribee Centrals player Natasha Dimkovski with her father Tony. Picture: Ben Cameron.

“We felt like it was really important to keep possession, play the safe ball, and that really worked in our favour today.”

The court was packed with boisterous Centrals supporters who had driven down the highway to support their premiership heroes.

“As you can see everyone’s just super happy,” she said.

“Everyone’s got tears with emotion, it feels like.

“We were really determined to give it everything we had today.

“They’ve worked extremely hard this year.”

Centrals veteran judged best on court in grand final win

Champion Werribee Centrals goal keeper and best on court Amanda O’Malley has received the ultimate accolade from the opposition — labelled a superstar of the competition by rival East Geelong coach Justine Radford.

Centrals, who were beaten by a solitary goal in last year’s decider to the Eagles, dominated the match and maintained a comfortable buffer at St Albans Reserve to eventually win 29-23.

O’Malley, judged best on court with some terrific intercepts, was pleased to knock off the “benchmark” of the competition in the Eagles.

“We really took it to you today, it was a great game of netball,” O’Malley said during the post-match presentation.

Amanda O'Malley was judged best on court in the GDFNL A Grade grand final. Picture: Ben Cameron

“We’re a Centrals family, we worked so hard.

“Last year we said we’d be back,

“Here we are today and we bloody did it.

“This was our goal and we had it at the forefront of our mind every single week.”

However, when asked about her playing future, O’Malley said she was going to focus on the moment for now.

Post-match, after their disappointing six-goal loss, Eagles coach Radford had the greatest respect for O’Malley.

“You absolutely deserved to win that match,” Radford said.

“Amanda, you are a superstar of the game.”

East Geelong were ‘flat’, says coach

East Geelong were simply off their game in the most important match of the season, several key Eagles have admitted.

Gutted centre Alanna Cottrill, who was helping clean up at St Albans Reserve less than an hour after a shattering six-goal loss to Werribee Centrals, said her teammates had struggled mentally.

“Nerves got the better of us today,” Cottrill said.

Melissa Prismall for Werribee Centrals.

“Usually we’re quite calm and composed in those pressure situations.

“Today we couldn’t to it, we were too nervous.”

Cottrill said the Eagles lacked continuity in 2023, unable to have their best squad on the court due to injury or unavailability.

She also wondered if having a week off, claiming a grand final berth after winning the semi-final a fortnight ago, might not have suited her teammates.

“We play better when we’re on a run,” she said.

“We actually haven’t had our 11 players all year (too), today was our first game (all together).

“The changes unsettle us.

Alanna Cottrill looks for an option for East Geelong.

“We couldn’t pull it together today.”

The unseasonal heat was also a factor, at least for Cottrill: “Even in the first quarter, I was just exhausted.”

Eagles coach Justine Radford agreed her team appeared “flat” on Saturday.

“We didn’t have the best day,” she said.

“It was pretty close for the majority of the game, but I don’t think my girls played their best netball.

“Maybe some of the excitement and the adrenaline hit its peak during the week.

“Today, it just felt a little bit flat out there.”

She admitted that Centrals were more efficient with ball in hand.

“At the end of the day Werribee were cleaner than us, they converted when they turned the ball over,” she said.

“We still did well defensively to get the ball down the other end, but at the end of the day they shot more goals than us, it is what it is.

“I think they were just the better team on the day unfortunately.”

Originally published as Werribee Centrals avenge last year’s heartbreaking one-goal grand final loss to beat old foe East Geelong in the GDFNL decider