Three has been Werribee Centrals’ lucky number in the Geelong and District Netball League A-grade competition for a decade now.
The Centurions have claimed an astonishing second ‘three-peat’ of premierships in 10 years of dominance, seen again on Saturday in its resounding 49-28 win over Thomson in the grand final at St Albans Reserve.
Centurions’ coach, Lina Iuta, could not contain her delight at securing another title.
“We’re over the moon to win another premiership,” she told Star Weekly. “The club has done a three-peat before and to do it again is remarkable. We couldn’t have asked for more.”
The team was a lot different to the one that had supremacy over the past two seasons.
Key recruits Madeline Hodgson and Gemma Grimmond came onboard and other players were promoted through the grades, so there was a touch of the unknown about the Centurions this season.
“We had to start again from the beginning to work out what we needed to do and where our strengths were, and we went from there,” Iuta said.
“It was a matter of improving each week.”
Nicole Stewart, Ellie Tubbs, Amanda Wilson and Amy Giaini had all been part of the 2014 winning team. Stewart, the club captain, had huge influence over the side and players were extra-motivated to win for her 200th game.
“Nicole plays a key role in this team, not only as a captain, but they all look up to her.
“She inspires them,” Iuta said. “All the players who committed to A-grade knew the hard work that was involved to get up to another premiership.
“They don’t drink during the season and that’s one of their team rules.
“It shows how committed they are to winning the premiership,” she said.
“It’s something they want and when you want something that bad, you’ll sacrifice to get the result.”
The Centurions were a bit fumbly early on in the grand final.
They took a 10-7 lead into the first break, but that was where their worries ended.
They then clicked into first gear to out-score Thomson 17-4 in the second quarter, and ran away with the match from there.
“No matter how many finals you’ve played in, it’s still nerve racking for the girls and we made a few early errors,” Iuta said.
“It’s just a matter of trying to be composed. When we were leading, we put our foot down and didn’t turn back.”
Tubbs, the competition’s leading goal-shooter with more than 700 goals this season, scored 29 goals, while Hodgson bobbed up with 20.
Giaini was named the game’s most valuable player, pipping Amanda Wilson for the gong.
The question now is, can the Centurions achieve a fourth premiership in succession?
Iuta is not letting her mind wander to next season yet.
“I’m not even going down that pathway,” she said.
“We’re just enjoying the three-peat.”
