Tigers pull away from Werribee to win Semi-Final

WINDY conditions at St Albans Reserve produced another entertaining Geelong & District Football League (GDFL) Semi-Final between Werribee Centrals and Thomson, cutting the finals race down to three sides.

Thomson pulled away from the Centurions this afternoon (Sunday, September 1), kicking seven goals in the fourth quarter to comfortably advance to next weekend’s Preliminary Final, winning 3.12 (30) to 12.18 (90).

The Tigers’ ball movement early was glacial as the scoreboard suggested, held scoreless in the opening and trailing the Centurions by 11 points.

Paul Lynch got his message across to his boys at quarter-time as the Tigers took the lead heading into the half-time break, 14-26.

Both clubs managed to squeeze out two goals each in the third quarter, with Werribee facing a 29-38 deficit at three-quarter time.

However, it was Thomson that broke the dam wall, kicking seven goals to none in the final half hour from 17 scoring shots to blow the Centurions out of the water.

The Tigers’ 52-point final term took the side to a 10-goal win, setting up a must-watch Preliminary Final with minor premiers East Geelong in six days’ time.

Jacob Knight and Jackson Macleod starred in front of goals for Thomson with three each, while Joshua Camm and Nick Lynch each finished with two. Jordan Camm and skipper Travis McGuire each kicked one.

Daryl Chesterman, Joshua McDonald and Carmelo Saliba were Werribee’s only goal scorers.

Knight and Macleod were named among the best-on-ground, alongside Stephen Salajan, McGuire, Jed Hanneysee, and Lynch.

Bryce Linehan-Cunningham, Patrick Daley, Bradley Carlton, Michael Culliver, Kur Kur and Harley Kilby were named best for Werribee.

The winner of next Saturday’s Preliminary Final between the Tigers and Eagles will play Belmont in the Grand Final on September 14 .

Thomson is now just one win away from competing in back-to-back deciders following last year’s disappointment against Inverleigh.

Despite a promising year finishing inside the top three, Werribee bow out of the 2024 finals after suffering back-to-back losses.