Werribee Centrals coach Rhyce Prismall has praised his players’ selflessness after the Centurions handed the Belmont Lions an 89-point hiding at Winter Reserve, leaving the Centurions unbeaten after five rounds.
Centrals kicked 14 goals to three after half-time to romp to a 22.15 (147) to 8.10 (58) victory.
The first month of the season has marked a stunning turnaround for Prismall’s men, whose return in 2025 saw them finish with seven wins and a draw.
“It’s just purely selflessness,” Prismall said when asked about the change in mindset at Galvin Park.
“We’ve got some A-graders, and we know it. They don’t play like A-graders. They play team first, footy.
“We talked about it today (Saturday), if certain blokes don’t get used, there’s no more dummy spitting or sookiness.
“We’ve got blokes in our reserves who could easily play in the ones. But we’ve got everyone who wants to do the same thing.
“We’re getting rewards, so it’s really exciting to see certain blokes play roles and get reward for effort.”
Prismall says the Centurions laid the groundwork during the week for the smaller dimensions of Winter Reserve.
“No disrespect to Belmont, but we had a good preparation and plan for them, and we exposed them, and we definitely cashed in,” Prismall said.
“The scoreboard probably didn’t reflect the actual game because it was a bit of an arm wrestle for probably two and a half quarters.
“Then everything went our way, and it became a bit of an avalanche of goals.
“We’re not an 89-point better side than Belmont.
“But easily the best win we’ve had this year. 21 contributors because we had an early injury.”
That early injury was Connor Linehan-Cunningham.
“He dived for a mark and fell on his shoulder/neck area,” Prismall said.
“They’ve ruled out anything too bad structurally. It may be a neck or AC (joint).
“He’ll have to get some scans on that.”
Brandon Houlihan, Josh MacDonald and 100-game Josh Sutton each kicked three goals for Centrals, while Bryce Linehan-Cunningham limited the influence of star Lions forward Ben Evans.
The Centurions now face a testing run between now and the King’s Birthday break, hosting North Geelong and Inverleigh either side of a trip to East Geelong.
The Lions also have a tough trio of games, including away meetings with Bannockburn and Bell Post Hill before hosting East Geelong.
Winchelsea has joined the logjam of clubs holding a 3-2 win-loss record after snatching a thrilling nine-point win over Inverleigh at Fortis Foundations Oval.
Trailing by nine points after Hawks forward Noah Sneskov gave the home team a nine-point lead midway through the final term, the Blues kicked the final three goals of the contest, including two to Indi Parish, to claim a 16.9 (105) to 13.18 (96) result.
Parish finished with five goals, while Cam Primmer – who sealed the result – finished with four majors.
37-year-old Ryan Williams, who played two AFL games for Port Adelaide and was a star at St Joseph’s, Anglesea and Modewarre, made his first senior appearance for Winchelsea
In the absence of Mason Dickson, Inverleigh veteran Adam Donohue almost lifted Inverleigh over the line with five goals of his own.
Bell Post Hill returned to form with a 27-point win over North Geelong at Myers Reserve, 14.8 (92) to 9.11 (65).
Veteran Nick Costello wound back the clock with a four-goal effort, while former Geelong West GFNL star David Handley kicked two goals and was the dominant player on the ground.
Osca Riccardi and Rory Desnoy were best for the reigning premier.
Brodie Harding and Bailey Kelly each kicked three goals as Bannockburn upset East Geelong by 34 points at Auswide Plumbing & Civil Oval.
Austin Mahoney and Rhys Ginn were also important in the 11.13 (79) to 6.9 (45) result.
League-leading goalkicker Zac Smith kicked three goals for the Eagles to take his season tally to 31.
Thomson opened its 2026 account with a 37-point win over Geelong West at Scaada Stadium, 12.9 (81) to 5.14 (44)
In-form veteran forward Paul Davis finished with four goals, and the returning Devon Smith contributed three majors.
Recruit Stuart Goddard kicked two goals for the winless Giants.
Anakie avoided a third consecutive loss to Corio in claiming a 24-point win at All In One Oval, 15.15 (105) to 12.9 (81).
Josh Mawson kicked three goals in a best-on-ground performance for the Roos.
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