Tara Murray
Werribee Centrals now believe that they can contend in the Western Region Football League women’s division 1 competition.
Having slowly built the last six seasons, the Centurions sit second on the ladder only percentage behind Spotswood after nine rounds.
Centurions coach Glenn Ballard said all the work they’ve done over the years has started to come together.
“The core group of the team has been together for six years,” he said. “They’re starting to click and understand structures.
“We had a lot of new players join us who had never played football before. They’ve now played 30,40 or 50 games and are starting to click and understand what football is about.
“The logistics of what we need to do and where we need to be. I’ve never had a bigger smile on my face.
Ballard said they had recruited well before the season as well to increase the depth in the squad.
He said they added five new players plus another two former players returned to the club.
With eight wins from their nine matches, the Centurions are tracking along nicely.
Ballard said that the pin has dropped about what they can achieve.
“We had a strong hard long pre-season and we are getting results for the effort they have put in,” he said.
“It’s taken six years, but we’ve now beaten everyone in the competition. We had never beaten Spotswood, but we got over the line against them three weeks ago.
“There’s a new belief in the group. It’s not just that we can do it, it’s that we can do it.”
Ballard said the group had set expectations on what they want to achieve this season and said a premiership would be a dream come true for everyone.
He said their first focus was to lock up a top two spot.
The Centurions had a bye on the weekend, with all women’s teams having the weekend off.
Next week they face Point Cook Centrals, who sit bottom, but Ballard said it would be no easy match.
“They are a good tackling side and the scoreboard doesn’t always reflect the games,” he said.
“When we play them we learn a lot with their pressure and that’s why they won the division 2 premiership.
“They apply the pressure for all four quarters. We know we are coming up against a disciplined team.”
In other matches, Caroline Springs hosts Parkside Spurs, while Spotswood plays Yarraville Seddon.
