Centrals ready for five-peat
WERRIBEE Centrals captain Brigitte Ardossi believes the injection of new blood will drive the club towards an unprecedented fifth-straight premiership.
The Centurions, unbeaten on grand final day since 2013, will take a vastly different lineup into today's A-Grade netball clash against Thomson.
Only five of the nine Centrals’ player from last year’s triumph over Bannockburn return, with Eleanor Tubbs, Jenni Rothery, Nicole Stewart, Gemma Grimmond and Amanda Wilson bidding for more glory.
Ardossi is back following a two-year break, while Jacinta Savory, Kyrstie Smith and Paras MacKenzie are hoping to share in the spoils of a premiership.
“We’re very positive,” Ardossi said. “We’ve only lost one game for the season, so how could you not back yourself going into a game like this?
“We’ve got a younger group than in previous years, so it’s good that the younger girls are excited and nervous. It ignites the older players.”
Lina Iuta led Centrals to a four-peat last season before standing aside to allow Prismall and Nicole Stewart to take charge.
The Centurions haven’t been challenged in recent grand finals, belting Bannockburn 55-30 in 2016, Thomson 49-28 in 2015 and Bell Post Hill by six goals in 2014.
They were premiers and champions in 2014, lost just one home-and-away game in 2015 and were premiers and champions again last season with 20-straight wins.
The Tigers inflicted Werribee’s first lost in Round 16, scoring a two-goal win at Galvin Park, but the tables were turned in the second semi-final with Werribee collecting a three-goal victory.
Ardossi was adamant the injection of new talent would provide Centrals will extra motivation to win.