By Justin Flynn
Despite a 26-point gap on the ladder between Werribee Centrals and Corio, Centurions coach Rhyce Prismall is well aware that there are no easy wins in the Geelong and District Football League this season.
The two sides meet at Galvin Park this Saturday and fresh from an impressive nine-goal win against reigning premier Inverleigh, the Centurions are heavy favourites, but Prismall said the Devils are better than their two wins and one draw suggest.
“If you look at one of our losses this year (it) was to Anakie and they’re three and eight at the moment so on the day you don’t show up, teams will get you at this level which is really healthy for the competition,” he said.
“Corio this week, although their win-loss position is a bit lower than ours, in round one they led by 15 points midway through the last quarter. They’ve got a lot of weapons, they’ve got a lot of really crafty forwards and their midfield is as good as anyone’s so we’ll be preparing no less than what we did for Inverleigh on the weekend.”
While the Centurions don’t have a tall forward line, especially since the injury to Bryce Linehan-Cunningham, small forwards Carmelo Saliba and Josh MacDonald have combined for 55 goals this season while Prismall himself has 12, including three on Saturday.
Prismall said while Tyler Crennan has always been a star, his defensive efforts and unselfishness has gone to a whole new level this season.
“He’s taken, not a backward step in his effort or anything, but he’s happy to play that role of ‘where do you need me today’ or ‘who do you want me to play on’ and his defensive stuff has gone through the roof this year, which umpires and vote givers don’t see that, but his tackling pressure and accountability has been really top notch,” he said.
Another Centurion who has been playing his role is Jack Stephenson, who kept Hawks star Adam Donohue to one goal on the weekend.
“For as long as I’ve been in the league, he’s (Donohue) been the most damaging player by far and I’ve tried smalls and talls and hybrids on him and everyone’s had their turn and been handed a lesson,” Prismall said.
“He’s (Stephenson) a determined and competitive kid and he was excited more than nervous when I told him he was going to have that role.”
Prismall said that the aim preseason was to make finals, but the landscape had shifted slightly with his side well entrenched in the top three.
“Last year it’s been noted that we were nine and four I think and lost our last five games,” he said.
“We’ve reset the goalposts in terms of our goals and we are hoping for that double chance, but so many things can happen, there are so many good teams between that third and seventh bracket who could really surprise.”
EAST GEELONG prevailed in the battle for top spot, beating Belmont by 35 points with Zac Smith kicking five goals and Caleb Ezard four.
GEELONG WEST almost pulled off a huge upset, going down to Bannockburn by three points. Oscar Miller was best for the Giants while Connor Jervies was excellent for Banno.
NORTH GEELONG overcame a dogged Corio by 26 points with Cooper Pasque best. The Devils led by 39 points at half time, but a 12 goal to two second half gave the Magpies the points.
THOMSON defeated Bell Post Hill by 46 points with Jacob Knight kicking six goals and Darcy Troop five while Josh Norman slotted through six for the Panthers.
FIVE goals each to Jordan Gould and Jack Symmons ensured Winchelsea returned home from Anakie with a 72-point win. Star Roo Andrew Boseley kicked four of his side’s six goals.
