Werribee Centrals must win all games remaining in the season and being at home to one of the bottom sides in Geelong West still needed to be won and won well especially for the Reserves. Centrals always find it difficult to put the lower sides away but needed this week to overcome that hoodoo. A few of the injured players are starting to filter back with Craig Rosenzweig, Brad Saunders, Scott Rathbone Chris Brierty all played in the reserves in their first games back this week.
The seniors started smartly with Blake Pilkington again in the ruck but could only manage points as it was hard to clear the scrambly packs. The first two goals came from snaps out of packs but then the game started to free up as Centrals found some run and space and this gave David Leatch at full forward plenty of opportunities which he was able to convert as Centrals started to open up a big lead even at quarter time. This momentum continued into the second quarter as Centrals were able to continue to break from the centre and pepper the sticks at will and it seemed Geelong West had no answer for this going into half time 14 goals behind and only being able to kick one.
After the main break nothing changed and Geelong West became frustrated at times giving away penalties which again resulted in goals even making the situation worse. It was raining goals as Centrals pushed the ball forward at will and to Geelong Wests credit they defended well considering the number of inside fifties they had to compete against. It seemed as the game went on that Centrals pressure just built up and Geelong West had no answer for this and the resultant avalanche of goals. Centrals rested David Leatch in the last and gave some of the starved backmen a chance up forward with Shane Weatherley and Shaun McGuiness both kicking goals and with the work around the packs from Ryan Murphy in his first senior game who also kicked a couple two it was a real whitewash. The club will hope this momentum will help next week against finals hope Anakie.
Final Scores:- Werribee Centrals 33.20 – 218 to Geelong West 1.4 - 10
Goal Kickers:- D Leatch 7, T Montebruno 6, B Pilkington 3, D Clonan 3, B Chugg 2, T Bray 2, R Quarrier 2, R Murphy 2, S McGuiness 2, K Blade, B McNicol, S Weatherley & L Phipps 1 each.
Best Players:- B Pilkington, D Leatch, D Clonan, K Blade, R Murphy, S McGuiness & S Weatherley.
Centrals Reserves also needing to win the remaining games were strengthened by the returning seniors and they started with a rush which never really stopped for the whole game. For a team to kick 40 goals to Nil what can you say other than the home team won in a very one sided game and with the percentage gained may give them the edge to other clubs wanting that coveted fifth spot on the ladder.
Final Scores:- Werribee Centrals 39.11 – 245 to Geelong West 0.00 – 00
Goal Kickers:- C Rosenzweig 8, J Bailey Buckler 7, J Richmond 6, A McDonald 4, A McDonald 4, C Wilson 3, C Brierty, N Byrne, P Grey, L O’Malley, J Pace, S Rathbone & A Schembri 1 each.
Best Players:- J Richmond, J Bailey-Buckler, A McDonald, J Pace, S Rathbone, C Wilson & C Rosenzweig.
The U 18s Colts team had a narrow loss to Geelong West St Peters and will be looking to make amends next week but remain second on the ladder in second division.
This week Centrals are at Anakie in what are now the most important games of the season. A loss in either seniors or reserves could mean missing out on finals action for 2012 so you can be sure they will be hotly contested as Anakie are in the same position.