Making excuses is not part of Rhyce Prismall’s vernacular, but the Werribee Centrals coach concedes injuries, coupled with unavailability, have contributed to the club’s consecutive losses.
Unbeaten after 11 rounds, the Centurions’ winning run was halted against Winchelsea in Round 12, followed by a 22-point defeat at the hands of Bannockburn.
A candid Prismall says the multiple absences have tested the club’s depth.
“The people we’re bringing in have still played senior footy before, and there are some blokes who are probably out of their depth a little bit, but their attitude’s been good.”
“They’re coming in to play a role that, and they’re doing what they can.
“Credit to Winchelsea and Bannockburn. I’ve said this to the boys: when you’re on top of the ladder undefeated, it is a big thing on the calendar for other teams to play against you and try and knock you off.
“And for us, that’s something we haven’t been for my time being there.
“So, it’s a privilege. But it’s also a challenge now in that every team wants to get you.
“We’ve got to adjust a few things, and hopefully with the influx of players over the three weeks, we can hopefully return to some winning form.”
Centrals held a three-game buffer on top of the ladder before losing to Winchelsea.
That advantage is now just four points, with the Blues ready to pounce if there are further slipups from the Centurions, who face a tricky meeting with North Geelong this weekend.
When Prismall’s men last ventured to Keth Barclay Oval in Round 10 last year, they headed back up the highway after receiving a 102-point hiding from the eventual premier.
“We’ve had a bit of a theme early in the year,” he said.
“We hadn’t won at East Geelong in a couple of years, and we went down there and did the job.
“We hadn’t won at Anakie for a little bit, and we went down there and did the job,
“So it’ll be the same message. We’ve got to get down to North, and we’ve got to perform and get some redemption on last year.
“They’re missing some players, we’re missing some players.
“Everyone plays everyone in that top bubble at the moment, so wins are very important.”
Centrals will be boosted by the return of captain Michael Culliver, Connor Linehan-Cunningham, and Bradley, among five changes.
However, Max Ryan (ankle) and unavailable pair Blake Taylor and Josh Sutton will be missing.
North Geelong has made five handy inclusions, including Jacsen Jewell returning from suspension, big man Tom Davis, Jack Cambridge, Cooper Pasque and Terry Tseros.
Missing from the team that overcame Thomson last week are injured duo Mick Govus and B.J. O’Toole, Harry Jones (suspended), Jhye Kenna (unavailable) and Kyah Henderson.
Bell Post Hill (4th, 9-4) has been boosted by the return of Tim Barton, Dylan Godwin and Daniel Banister for a blockbuster meeting with Winchelsea (2nd, 10-3) at Eastern Reserve.
They replace Sam Harmer, Lachie Verschuren and Toby Osburn.
At the Blues, Luke Henry and Tom Rouget replace injured pair Aaron Cooke and Caleb Brown.
Geelong West (12th 0-13) has named debutants Taj Adams and Archie Ingwersen among six inclusions as it chases its first win of the season against Inverleigh (8th, 7-6).
Adams hadn’t played footy since 2016 before this year, while Ingwersen is a product of the Giants’ junior program.
Jacson Collins, Daniel Pollard, Lucas Wealands and Lucas Bei return.
Riley Seresi-Unsworth is unavailable; there are injuries for Billy Higgins, Nick Lloyd, and Matthew Hanna, with Aaron Dean and Felix La Bonte returning to the under-18s.
The Hawks have made three changes, including Harvey Bauer, Daniel Grozdanovski and Jarvis Miles for Logan Haberfield, Dan Carlon and Noah Moore.
Corio (11th, 1-12) has suffered a blow ahead of its clash with fellow struggler Thomson (10th, 2-11), with injury sidelining leading goalkicker Herschelle Carr.
Carr, who has kicked 29 goals for the season, has a torn abdominal muscle.
The Devils will also be without Max Roberts (ankle) and the unavailable Tommy Short.
They’ve been replaced by Hayden Burns, Buckley Weber and Aaron Taylor.
Belmont Lions (5th, 9-4) have made three changes for Sunday’s Reconciliation match against Bannockburn (7th, 8-5) at Winter Reserve.
The Lions have included Braeden Eddy, Steve Gunther and Jake Wood for playing co-coach Brent Vermeulen, Jesse Stapleton and Seb Reblouw.
More to come
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