Werribee Centrals are 60 minutes away from consecutive perfect seasons in GDFL A-grade netball.
In 2013, Lina Iuta’s first year as coach, the Centurions went undefeated on their way to the premiership.
Twelve months later, Iuta’s impeccable coaching record is on the line as the Centurions bid for a remarkable second unbeaten season in this weekend’s grand final against Bell Post Hill.
Iuta said her side had maintained the momentum built during last season’s run.
“The benchmark was set from last year,” she said. “Winning the grand final undefeated in 2013 kind of carried us in good stead for 2014. It was a matter of keeping on keeping on.”
The Centurions are taking nothing for granted, with their week one finals victory over Bell Post Hill serving as a reminder of the challenge ahead.
In that match, the Centurions found themselves in an unfamiliar position, down by five goals at quarter-time and even as much as seven at one point.
They showed their class and character to get back into the game and register a nine-goal win.
Iuta believes it was a fine thing for her side to “problem solve” and grind out a win.
“It was nerves; a lot of the girls said they were nervous,” she said. “It was good for us to experience.”
Iuta used nine players in that come-from- behind win.
She believes the depth in her squad is one of its major strengths and plans on utilising it to the maximum in the season decider.
“I call our bench players our impact players,” she said. “I have the versatility of changing it up when I need to, knowing they will go on to make an impact on court.”
The Centurions have strength in all sections of the court.
Amanda Wilson, Noni McClure and Melissa Jeka have formed a water-tight defence all season.
Nicole Stewart and Amy Giaini have been hard to curtail in mid-court, while Ellie Tubbs could well be the X-factor in the season’s final game.
Tubbs shot an incredible 749 goals during the season and will have a target on her back for the opposition.
Iuta is confident her star goaler can again get the job done. “Ellie’s come a long way and she’s been quite a strong player. But I need her to be stronger than strong. She will deliver.”
The Centurions will have four teams in grand finals at St Albans Reserve in Geelong on Saturday.
