Jackson Grundy made it premiership success for four Werribee-listed players at local level in 2025, starring in North Warrnambool’s Hampden League Grand Final victory.

The midfielder claimed best-on-ground honours as the Eagles powered past Koroit by 42 points on the AFL Grand Final public holiday Friday.

In a dominant performance, the 24-year-old collected 27 disposals, 11 clearances, six tackles and slotted a memorable long-range goal that stretched the margin to 29 points midway through the final term. It was a fitting end to a year that also saw him make his VFL debut with Werribee, where he played five games in 2025.

The premiership triumph came after years of frustration, with Grundy and North Warrnambool having lost four consecutive grand finals, including two to Koroit, before finally breaking through for the club’s first senior flag since 1994. The Eagles had been the standout side all season, finishing on top of the ladder with a 15-3 record.

Grundy joins fellow Werribee teammates Mace Cousins (Darley in the Ballarat Football League), Anthony Depasquale (Kyabram in the Goulburn Valley League) and Fergus Pinnuck (Cobram in the Murray League) who each claimed premiership medals in 2025.

Meanwhile, Liam Kershaw also featured on the big stage, running out for St Joseph’s in the Geelong Football League Grand Final against St Mary’s at GMHBA Stadium.

The youngster was unable to join Werribee’s quartet of local premiership players, with the Joeys, minor premiers, falling short in the decider 10.8 (68) to 7.13 (55).

Kershaw, playing on the wing, covered the ground to gather 15 disposals along with a couple of inside-50s and rebound-50s, but could not help his side over the line in a season where he became Werribee's 17th debutant of 2025.

After eight seasons at VFL level, Angus Hicks has called time on his career, finishing with 66 games across stints at Richmond and Werribee.

Hicks’ two years at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval were highlighted by Werribee’s 2024 premiership, where he became a first-time VFL premiership player in the 52nd game of his career.

Despite an interrupted pre-season, the forward returned in Round 4 this year during Werribee’s interstate trip to Sydney and went on to feature in 14 matches. He was a consistent presence in the line-up, missing just once late in the season through illness. His 2025 campaign was also statistically his strongest, averaging a career-high 16.4 disposals and five tackles per game. At 26, Hicks now finishes his VFL journey to return home and play with his junior club, Shepparton United, from 2026 onwards.

Reflecting on his time in the competition, Hicks said:

“I’m forever grateful for the opportunities this club has given me. The memories I’ve made here are ones I’ll carry with me for life.”

He added:

“What makes footy clubs truly special are the people, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to cross paths with some of the best throughout my VFL career.”

Hicks’ VFL story began after the Murray Bushrangers, where he claimed their 2017 best-and-fairest before signing with Richmond’s VFL side the following year. His first three seasons tested his resilience: hamstring injuries in 2018, a broken leg in a 2019 pre-season match, and the cancelled 2020 campaign meant he had to wait until 2021 to finally make his VFL debut. That moment came in Round 1 against Sandringham, where he impressed with 23 disposals and two goals.

He went on to play 36 games across the next three years at Richmond before joining Werribee ahead of the 2024 season. Hicks arrived as a seasoned campaigner and immediately made an impression, earning a place in the leadership group in both 2024 and 2025. In his club debut against Southport, he produced a clutch moment, converting a late set shot to deliver a three-point win after winning a holding-the-ball free kick inside 50. A best-on-ground showing on ANZAC Day against Williamstown then set the tone for a strong run of form, where he averaged 20 disposals and more than two goals a game between Rounds 5 and 8.

By Round 18 against Port Melbourne, Hicks reached his 50th VFL game, a milestone seven years in the making. Although an injury late in the home-and-away season threatened to derail his finals campaign, he recovered to be recalled for the Grand Final. He played a key role in the drought-breaking triumph, ranking as Werribee’s third-highest rated player on the day after half-time as the Tigers surged to victory. His first season at Werribee ended with a premiership medal and personal best returns of 14 goals and 16 disposals per game across 16 matches.

Across two years in black and gold, Hicks added 30 games and 18 goals, leaving as both a premiership player and a respected leader.

Werribee sharp-shooter Hudson Garoni has called an end to his VFL career after seven seasons with the club.

The 25-year-old premiership forward capped his final year by securing a fourth consecutive club leading goalkicker award, finishing with 43 goals from 17 games in 2025. In doing so, he became the first Tiger since Werribee great James Podsiadly to achieve the feat four years in a row.

Garoni’s consistency was further recognised with a career-best runner-up finish in the 2025 Bruce Montgomery Trophy. It was during his acceptance speech on the night that he revealed his decision to retire.

“It was obviously a pretty difficult decision… I’ve loved my time here at Werribee, and I couldn’t thank Pena [Mark Penaluna] and the team more. It was probably the hardest decision I’ve had to make, to be honest.”

He added, “I love the boys, obviously so much, and the coaching staff. It was pretty tough, definitely a couple of sleepless nights there.”

Garoni retires seventh on Werribee’s all-time goal tally with 187 goals from 86 games, and will now continue his footballing journey with his junior club, the Wodonga Bulldogs.

Garoni joined Werribee in 2019 as a Murray Bushrangers graduate and Wodonga product. Debuting in Round 19 of that year against Box Hill in the Beyond Blue Cup, he was presented with his jumper by fellow Bushranger Matt Munro and kicked a goal with his first kick. From that moment, he became one of the VFL’s most reliable forwards, building an unmatched streak of 40 consecutive games with at least one goal by the end of 2025, stretching back to the 2023 preliminary final.

His first club leading goalkicker award came in 2022 when he kicked 32 goals, including three bags of five. In 2023, he elevated his game, finishing with 45 goals and a career-best haul of six against Williamstown on Past Players Day. That year, he placed third in the Frosty Miller Medal and earned selection in the Big V representative team, while also playing a key role in Werribee’s run to the grand final.

In 2024, he reached his 50th VFL game, played all 21 matches, and set a new career mark with 49 goals. He was selected in his second consecutive VFL Team of the Year 40-man squad and was the only player in the competition to kick a goal in every game of the home and away season, again finishing third in the Frosty count. His consistency carried into the finals, where he kicked three goals in the preliminary final win over Brisbane, including two in the last quarter to turn the game. In the Grand Final, he once again hit the scoreboard, kicking the goal that gave Werribee the lead as they came from behind to claim the premiership. Reflecting on the triumph, Garoni said, “We knew we weren’t playing our best footy at half time, so to run over them like that, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Team success is why we play, so it is unbelievable.”

Garoni’s goal-scoring run continued into 2025 as he piled on another 43 goals, booting majors in all 17 games he played.

Highlights of his final season included an equal career-best haul of six goals against preliminary finalists Frankston, a game where he also pulled down an all-time equal VFL record of 11 marks inside 50 (later surpassed by Southport’s Hugh Dixon in a 109-point win over the Northern Bullants in Round 10). He also kicked four goals against the Bullants in what would ultimately be his final outing in Werribee colours.

Hudson, along with his parents, Brett and Steph, who have been such loyal supporters of the club, will be sorely missed around Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval.

It was a weekend to remember for Werribee-listed players, as Mace Cousins (Darley), Anthony Depasquale (Kyabram) and Fergus Pinnuck (Cobram) each played key roles in premiership triumphs for their local clubs. Congratulations to all three on their premiership success.

They’re joined in this week’s edition by two more teammates who remain in the hunt for silverware, with Jackson Grundy (North Warrnambool) and Liam Kershaw (St Joseph’s) set for grand final appearances this Friday.

PREMIERSHIP SUCCESS

Ballarat Football Netball League:

Mace Cousins - Darley
Cousins was a standout as Darley claimed the BFNL premiership with an 11.13 (79) to 6.9 (45) win over Sunbury at City Oval, Ballarat. Named among the best, he picked up 17 disposals, 11 contested possessions, eight marks, including another huge five intercept grabs, and even hit the scoreboard with 2.1. Both goals came in the opening term, his first two of the season, and helped set up a 47 to 0 quarter-time lead.

It was Cousins’ second premiership in three years, a reward for a season where he excelled at both levels, winning Werribee’s Defensive Player of the Year at the recent Bruce Montgomery Trophy night. The flag also marks an incredible return to football after he missed the entirety of 2024 with a back injury.

Goulburn Valley Football Netball League:

Anthony Depasquale - Kyabram
Depasquale became a senior premiership player as Kyabram defeated Rochester 13.13 (91) to 8.14 (62) in Sunday’s grand final at Deakin Reserve. The dynamic forward gathered 15 disposals, six marks and two inside 50s, and added 1.1 to continue his streak of kicking a goal in every game for the Bombers in 2025, helping seal the 29-point victory.

The flag caps a strong year where Depasquale earned a VFL debut with Werribee, featured in eight games and kicked six goals, while also returning from a back injury in time to lead Kyabram’s charge.

Murray Football League:

Fergus Pinnuck - Cobram
Pinnuck helped deliver one of the great Murray FNL upsets as Cobram edged out previously undefeated Congupna 8.6 (54) to 5.21 (51) in the grand final at Moama Reserve. He finished with 16 disposals, eight contested possessions, four rebound 50s, and a couple of clearances and inside 50s.

The win was Cobram’s first premiership since 1998, toppling a Congupna side chasing back-to-back flags and riding a 32-game unbeaten streak. Despite Congupna generating a staggering 26 scoring shots to Cobram’s 14, Pinnuck and his teammates stood tall to secure a famous three-point triumph.

UPCOMING GRAND FINALS

Hampden Football Netball League:

Jackson Grundy - North Warrnambool
Grundy will line up in his fifth consecutive grand final this Friday when North Warrnambool face Koroit at Reid Oval, Warrnambool. It is a remarkable achievement for the Eagles midfielder, who will be hoping to help his side break a run of four straight defeats on the big stage.

North Warrnambool had last weekend off after defeating Koroit by five points in the semi-final a fortnight ago. That match marked Grundy’s first game since Round 17 of the HFNL season, and he made an immediate impact with 15 disposals, four clearances and six tackles, along with a crucial last-quarter goal to book their place in the decider.

The grand final appearance caps a year in which he made his VFL debut in Round 1, playing five games for Werribee in 2025.

Geelong Football Netball League:

Liam Kershaw - St Joseph’s
Kershaw and St Joseph’s will look to finish their top-of-the-ladder campaign with a flag when they take on St Mary’s in Friday’s GFNL grand final at GMHBA Stadium.

It has been a breakout season for Kershaw, who became Werribee’s 17th debutant of 2025 while also playing 13 games for St Joseph’s either side of his VFL appearances. He was influential in St Joseph’s 13.8 (86) to 10.9 (69) semi-final win over Colac, finishing with 10 disposals, three marks, four one-percenters and two rebound 50s to earn a place among the best players.

Now, the first-year senior looks to cap his development with a premiership medal in what has already been a memorable 2025.