Werribee Centrals has put itself in a strong position to attack the final few rounds and finals in the Western Football League women’s competition.
After a slow start to the season, last season’s premiers find themselves in a good spot heading into the last couple of rounds.
Coach Jade De La Rue said they were where they expected to be.
“It’s good at the moment,” she said. “We experienced massive turnover in the off season.
“We lost experienced players.
“Over the last month and half we’ve got everyone who didn’t have as much experience and had a little less confidence to get the touches of the footy and use it in the way that we wanted.
“They are getting a lot better and their confidence has grown.
“We are sitting where I thought we would be sitting.”
De La Rue said one of the most exciting things for her was seeing those newer and younger players find their feet at this level.
She said she had coached many of the girls at junior level.
“They have one or two years of senior football under their belts,” she said. “They have found their feet a bit more and becoming leaders in the team.
“The new girls are coming in and doing the same thing which is the most rewarding part. That’s my number one priority, helping girls improve and become more confident in what they do.”
De La Rue said the message to the playing group was that they were in a very similar position to this time last year.
She said their best was still ahead of them.
“We’re in exactly the same place as last year,” she said. “Last year we had lost three games at this point.
“This year we have three losses and a draw. We are in the mix and up until the final round we could have dropped to fourth place.
“We’ve got to keep the confidence about them as much as you can tell them.”
De La Rue said their recent match up against ladder leaders Caroline Springs had shown their growth this season.
After losing by 90 points the first time round and this time round they lost by 43 points.
De La Rue said one of their biggest focuses was making sure that they converted in front of goal to try and get on top of the other finalists.
The Centurions face Wyndhamvale on Saturday.
Before the match, De La Rue said the Falcons were the most physically tough team in the competition.
It was a big win for the Centurions, winning 13.11 (89)-1.3 (9).
Madi Cronin and Larissa Renaut kicked three goals each.
