Werribee Centrals have put in the groundwork for a tilt at a fourth consecutive GDFL netball top-flight premiership.
The Centurions are a perfect 13-0 after Saturday’s 56-31 win over Belmont Lions at Winter Reserve.
It maintains their two-game buffer at the top of the ladder – a handy break, with Thomson and Bannockburn hot on the heels all season.
“We’ve been travelling quite nicely,” Centurions’ captain Nicole Stewart told Star Weekly. “We’re exactly where we want to be, again.”
At times during their premiership three-peat, it seemed the Centurions could just go through the motions and still come out victorious.
This is not one of those seasons – there’s at least four teams in serious contention for the chip at the end of this year.
“We wouldn’t say we’ve got this,” Stewart said.
“We’re working hard to beat a lot of teams this season.”
The Centurions are a nose in front of the rest of the competition, but with an older list, they could do with playing less games at the business end of the season.
Top spot would grant them an important rest in week one of the finals.
“The last three years, we’ve had the week off, and it’s worked for us,” Stewart said.
“Come finals time the last three seasons, we’ve only played two games in each finals series, whereas some teams can play four finals to get into the grand final.
“It’s normally a lot hotter and the games are a lot quicker, so it’s better for us to rest.
“We’re older than some other teams, we’ve also got a couple of young ones,” she said.
“But it’s good for us to have the week off.”
While a rare four-peat is this year’s ultimate aim, the Centurions have also been keeping an eye on the future.
Coach Lina Iuta has opened up a spot on certain occasions for young under-17 players in the top two grades.
A buddy program, which has an A-grade player taking an under-17 under their wing, is proving successful.
“All the A-grade players have a 17-and-under buddy.
“They’re responsible for looking after then, helping them and going to watch their games, and have training sessions together,” Stewart said.
“We try to give them games when we know we’re coming up against a team in the bottom half of the ladder.
“Whether or not it’s just being involved in the warm-up or they get a quarter … just to get them to know us and make them feel more comfortable,” Stewart said.
Werribee Centrals will host top-five aspirant Bell Post Hill at Galvin Park on Saturday.
