Werribee Centrals travelled to Bell Post Hill for the match of the day between the top two teams who have not met since round four early in the season. Bell Post Hill has recruited well since then and with Centrals needing to rest a couple of important players in David Hall and Shaun Simmons it was always going to be a tough ask at Bell Post Hill. Adam Schembri withdrew at the last minute and David Gamble was brought into the side adding another runner.
The game started as it should have between the two best sides in the comp fast, furious and some good footy but it was all Bell Post Hill who controlled the centre of the ground and were the better runners as they had numerous inside fifties which Centrals struggled to contain and it wasn’t long before Bell Post had four goals on the board. Centrals rallied late in the term to kick one and had other opportunities but could not convert under Bell Posts pressure.
Blake Pilkington soccered one of the ground to start the second quarter but from there it was all Bell Post Hill as they dominated the stoppages and ran the ball at will as Centrals were left flat footed. Centrals were being beaten at their own game as Bell Post Hill marked at will and played the centre corridor creating many opportunities. The amount of times loose players kicked the ball into Bell Post Hills forward half it just gave Centrals back men no chance to curb the tide. Looking at an eight goal half time deficit Centrals work was in front of them.
The third quarter was no better as Bell Post continued to win the ball out of the centre kicking six goals but with a couple of late charges Centrals were able to peg three back but were now eleven goals down.
Coach David Leatch asked for some real endeavor in the last as Centrals had nothing to loose and he wanted them to win the quarter and show something for at least a quarter. A few positional changes saw Nathan Lovell go forward and he kicked the first two goals of the quarter which were quickly followed by goals to Kurt Tietze, Luke Montgomery and David Todaro and finally Centrals seemed to have some run in their legs as the broke the lines but it was short lived as they fell back into just kicking in hope as the run stopped and then a few ball handling mistakes allowed Bell Post to kick two and stop the drive Centrals had. As the pace went of the game late in the quarter Centrals just could not bridge the gap any further.
Final Scores:- Werribee Centrals 13.8 – 86 to Bell Post Hill 20.14 - 134
Goal Kickers:- A Kitchen 2, M Deluca 2, N Lovell 2, T Bray 2, L Montgomery 2, B Pilkington, K Tietze & D Todaro 1 each.
Best Players:- B Pilkington, D Galle, D Todaro, C Barrillaro, B Chugg & S Calbert.
The Centrals Reserves also played Bell Post Hill in a similar game as the opposition just outran Centrals who were not prepared to man up or do the hard things that win games. Bell Post Hill did have a sprinkling of senior players whose abilities shone through but there are no excuses for Centrals when they allowed the opposition to dictate the game for most of the day. Centrals backline had plenty of work to do and they did the best they could in the onslaught but were hopelessly outmanned as Bell Post Hill had so many runners coming inside fifty without any pressure being applied. At the other end of the ground Centrals forwards just could not win enough of the ball in the air and when it hit the ground Bell Post Hill had no trouble in clearing it with ease. The two oldest players on the ground in Roland Back & Heath Buck showed their younger teammates what was needed but it just left for others to do.
Final Scores:- Werribee Centrals 6.3 – 39 to Bell Post Hill 14.8 – 92
Goal Kickers:- D Giarrusso 3, J Robinson 2, P Hegarty 1.
Best Players:- R Beck, H Buck, C Kelly, L Simpson, J Walters & S Wickens.
This week’s football is against East Geelong at Galvin Park Shaws Road Werribee and again it is between two of the top finals contenders and should be the match of the round.
Last Modified on 24/07/2010 23:44