The era of Werribee Centrals domination in Geelong and District Netball League A-grade has come to an end.
Centrals were denied a fifth straight premiership in a 41-33 loss to bogey side Thomson in the grand final at St Albans Reserve on Saturday.
Thomson is the only side that has beaten Centrals since 2015, doing so on three occasions in that period.
But this year’s grand final result is not an upset of epic proportions. In the lead-up, Centrals co-coach Nicole Stewart acknowledged Thomson always matched up well against her side.
Still, history will remember this result as the one that brought to an end one of the best dynasties in GDNL netball.
Centrals led by two goals at half-time and scores were locked at 29-29 at three-quarter time.
Usually, Centrals would come home with a last quarter rush, but they ran out of petrol and were out-scored 12-4 in that period.
Brigitte Ardossi, Jenni Rothery and Gemma Grimand were named best for Centrals, while Jacinta Savory scored a team-high 23 goals, but it was not enough to avoid a gut-wrenching defeat.
Centrals secured the B-grade cup in a 41-40 grand final win over Thomson.
Tania Redpath, Joanne Crozier and Maddison Knight were the standouts for Centrals, who came back from two goals down at three-quarter time to win.
