STUNNING WIN BY CENTRALS

“THIS is massive. Massive,” Werribee Centrals coach Nick Smith barked at his players just minutes after they had stunned Bannockburn by 32 points on Saturday.

He knew just how big the result was. And so did his players. The 7.12 (54) to 3.4 (22) win was not only the Centurions’ best performance of the season, but in the context of the GDFL finals race it was significant.

With results across the league going their way — Geelong West losing to East Geelong and Winchelsea getting done by Belmont Lions — the Centrals moved into fourth spot on the ladder.

They are now within reaching distance of third-placed Bannockburn and in the hunt for a double chance after validating their season of improvement on the road in tough conditions.

It was almost impossible to be polished in the torrential rain that fell at Victoria Park, but Werribee won the territory battle. Smith’s players attacked the footy harder than the Tigers, made better decisions going forward, were cleaner on the outside and they were rewarded for it.

“To get the win in these conditions … they stood up under real physical pressure, I just couldn’t be prouder of them. It was fantastic,” Smith said.

“They’ve been a bit of our bogey team because they are always physical. Because we had a younger team, often they have really bullied us.

“The last game last year they really just made us look ordinary and really took the shine off what was a good season.

“In the end (on Saturday), we were almost forced to beat them at their own game because of the conditions. On a dry day we wouldn’t have wanted to play them like that.

“But when it’s a bit wet and messy you have to put your head over it, you have to tackle and I just thought we were fantastic.”

Centrals are now starting to build a solid form base heading into the business end of the season, raising the bar each week.

Smith labelled last week’s win over Winchelsea as his team’s best performance, but admitted Saturday’s effort topped that.

Centrals dominated the game early, holding Bannockburn goalless in the first quarter before edging to a 14-point lead at halftime, 3.10 to 2.2.

“I was really worried that we were going to regret that (bad finishing) in the end,” Smith said.

“We probably should have been another four or five goals up at half time.

“Then there was a bit of a scuffle and a bit going on before halftime and I was worried