LATE signings Chris Benson and Josh Macdonald will waste no time getting acquainted with their Werribee Centrals teammates after being named in the senior team for tomorrow (Thursday) night’s practice match against Keilor Park.
Benson and Macdonald have been unveiled as signings in the past 48 hours, with both arriving following the decision late last month by Western Region club Glen Orden to go into recess.
“It’s very sad to see,” Centrals coach Rhyce Prismall said of Glen Orden’s predicament.
“Glen Orden has been around for a very long time; they played Division 1 Western Region once upon a time.
“It is sad to see a club struggling to get players to commit.
“We’ve seen post-Covid clubs struggling to find depth in the reserves, and not all the kids coming up from the colts.”
Benson and Macdonald are among six players from the Hawks to land at Galvin Park, with Benson a noted goalkicker and Macdonald a more than capable midfielder.
“Chris has made the (WRFL) Team of the Year a couple of times,” Prismall said.
“He hasn’t played a lot of footy the last two years due to joining the police force and getting some injuries last year.
“He’s a big fella, about 6’4” (195cms).
“Josh has got a fair footy resume in the Western Region.”
That duo will be among up to 13 players who will play against Keilor Park that are new to the club or played two or fewer games for Werribee Centrals in 2023.
Making welcome returns will be multiple best-and-fairest winner Brad Carlton and newly-appointed captain Daryl Chesterman.
Carlton lasted less than a half in 2022 after suffering a knee injury in the Round 1 loss to Inverleigh.
While Chesterman returned for a handful of reserves games late last year after missing more than 12 months with his own knee issue.
“Brad will be onball for us, which is exciting,” Prismall said.
“He’s had a big pre-season; he’s keen to get his form back to where it was.
“And Chesty will probably start forward and work his way onto the ball.
“It’s exciting for them and us.”
Chad Buck was the only player Prismall couldn’t consider, but the vice-captain is expected to be right for the second and final practice match against North Footscray on March 18.
Prismall will also watch from the sidelines.
“We’ve got 49 available, so it’s probably best to give a few other boys that are new an opportunity,” he said.
“I’m pretty excited just to sit back and watch and see what these new boys can do.”
Twitter: @krockfootball
