WERRIBEE Centrals consigned neighbours Anakie to the scrap heap with a 64-point win in a crucial penultimate round Geelong and District Football League Smiths Holden Cup clash at Anakie Reserve on Saturday.
The Centurions kept their own finals chances alive as a result of the punishment they handed out over four quarters – winning 22.14 (146) to 12.10 (82) – to remain in fourth spot with one round to go.
All the more impressive is the Centurions did it without in-form star David Leatch, who was missing through injury.
Their lack of height was offset by a stellar performance from mobile ruckman Blake
Pilkington.
The big man was commanding at the centre bounce, dominant aerially around the ground and dangerous as a resting forward with five goals.
Phillip Jones left his fingerprints all over the ball as he kept knocking up possessions in the centre of the park, and fellow onballers Brayden Montebruno, Brendan Chugg and Toby Bray gift wrapped many a present for the Centurions forwards to unwrap.
Craig Rosenzweig, in his first game in the seniors since returning from injury, Tyren Montebruno and David Clonan – all players with three goals to their name – needed no second invitations to run Anakie off the road the finals.
While one team is out of the picture, three teams are fighting for the remaining two live spots in the GDFL finals, leaving the Centurions, North Geelong and East Geelong to battle it out on the last weekend.
The Centurions hold all the aces because of their two-point break on the other two sides and their last round date will be against rock-bottom and winless Winchelsea at Galvin Park on Saturday.
