By Lance Jenkinson
Rhyce Prismall has been wooed to Werribee Centrals to take on a new playing co-coach role of the Geelong and District Football League club.
Prismall made the tough decision to leave his beloved Werribee Districts in the Western Region Football League because the fit at Centrals was perfect for this stage of his career.
At the age of 30, Prismall is beginning to explore his coaching capabilities, something he started as a playing assistant coach under Chris Gilham at Werribee Districts last year.
The decision to move to Centrals was also brought about to bring his young family closer together on Saturdays, which is priority number one for Prismall.
“It was a family decision,” Prismall said.
“My wife [Melissa] has played netball at Centrals for the past 15 years.
“A combination of that, with our second child due in February, it’s an easier decision on the family.
“The coaching side of things, going on as a co-coach, that’s an opportunity for me.”
Prismall leaves Werribee Districts with a little bit of unfinished business. He spent the past four seasons with the Tigers, one under Paul Chapman and the other three under Gilham, but could not crack it for a premiership.
With so many close friends at the Tigers, Prismall admitted it was a tough decision to leave.
“I played juniors there and I’ve been back for the last four seasons,” Prismall said. “We were pretty close this year, too, probably a little piece in the puzzle away from winning a flag.
“It was hard to tell the players, especially, and the coach and committee.”
Prismall has played under some of the best coaches in local football and he will take a little bit from all of them and apply it to his new role.
He joked that he and Gilham were like “footy nerds” last year, discussing match-ups, team changes and training strategies.
“I’ve been pretty blessed in my local football career,” Prismall said.
“I’ve had Chris Gilham at Werribee, Mick McGuane at Keilor and Matt Kershaw at Lara and I think they’re three of the best coaches going around in Victoria.
“I’ve been able to sponge off them as much as I could over the past decade or so and hopefully I can sponge a lot off Nick Smith as well.”
Prismall is still playing good football, so he will add just as much on the park to a premiership-contending Werribee Centrals.
The Werribee resident featured in the WRFL’s interleague squad last year and will add some class on the outside for the Centurions.
He will be just as hands-on in his coaching role.
“Nick has given me the green light to take on as much as I like,” Prismall said. “I’ll be looking to hopefully give as much as I can in both the playing and the coaching.”
Smith is thrilled with the two-in-one benefit Werribee Centrals will receive in the Prismall capture.
“We’ve been targeting good experienced players who have played at higher levels and he fits that,” he said. “The opportunity to develop his coaching in a co-coaching capacity was a fair carrot for him as well.”
Lance Jenkinson
