Werribee secured its first four points of 2025 with a dominant second-half performance, running out 23-point winners over Essendon on Saturday.

Trailing by seven at halftime at the NEC Hangar, Werribee stormed out after the break, piling on seven goals in the third quarter to take control and claim an 11.12 (78) to 7.13 (55) win.

Bior Malual carried his opening round form into this match, booting the game’s first major. Hudson Garoni extended his goal-kicking streak to 25 consecutive games before Essendon responded with three unanswered goals to take a three-point lead into quarter-time.

The second quarter was a deadlock until the 24th minute when Brady Wright, who kicked three goals last week on debut, got on the score sheet again with the first goal of the term. Essendon hit back quickly to take a seven-point lead into the main break.

Harry Grintell was a standout in his new half-back role, racking up 16 disposals and seven marks in the first half, while Malual showed no signs of slowing down with 13 touches by halftime.

The game turned in the third quarter as Werribee stormed ahead with six unanswered goals and seven in total for the term, opening up a 33-point lead at the final break.

Flynn Young continued his strong start to the season, igniting the scoring with Werribee’s first two goals of the quarter.

Tylar Watts and Noah Tullio registered their first goals in Werribee colors.

Watts, playing his fifth game for the club, took an intercept mark 15 meters out before calmly converting.

Tullio, an 18-year-old small forward, played his junior footy for Werribee Districts. Speaking with Star Weekly prior to the season, Tullio said, “To play here was a no-brainer. I was training around the corner. Some of the boys are travelling for two hours, and I’m five minutes down the road”.

Hudson Garoni, Cooper Whyte, and Jay Dahlhaus also hit the scoreboard in a commanding quarter.

Essendon fought back with the first two goals of the last quarter, but a clutch goal from Jake Smith - threading the needle with a tight set shot—sealed the win, pushing the margin back to 25 points late in the game.

Werribee ran out 23-point winners to claim its first victory of the season.

Midfielder Dom Brew delivered a best-on-ground performance, with Jimmy Allan praising his impact; ‘Dom got back to doing what he does best. He quelled the influence of a very dangerous stoppage player and then won plenty of the ball himself. Not many players can do that.”

Down back Ryan Eyers impressed for the second week running while Jaelen Pavlidis was equally strong, finishing with 16 disposals and eight marks.

Sam Conway made his season debut and battled well against 300-game AFL ruckman Todd Goldstein, recording 26 hitouts and seven clearances. Louis Pinnuck rounded out Werribee’s best with a dominant 32-disposal, 18-mark performance.

ROUND 2 PHOTO GALLERY - CLICK HERE

FINAL SCORE:
Werribee: 2.3 3.5 10.11 11.12 (78)
Essendon: 3.0 4.6 5.8 7.13 (55)

GOAL SCORERS:
Werribee: H. Garoni (2), F. Young (2), B. Malual, J. Smith, N. Tullio, T. Watts, C. Whyte, B. Wright
Essendon: J. Eckersley (3), J. Busuttil, A. Day-Wicks, K. Gerreyn, V. Vissentini

Following our recent 2024 VFL Premiership success, the Werribee Football Club is excited to announce that our full suite of membership packages are now available for 2025.

2024 will forever be remembered for the drought-breaking Premiership, and in 2025... WE’RE GOING AGAIN. ARE YOU?

Sign up as a member for 2025 via this link.

Werribee will unfurl its premiership flag before its Round 3 clash against Footscray.

The match is Werribee’s first home game since the premiership triumph, returning to Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval to face Western suburbs rival Footscray in the annual Health West Cup on Saturday, April 5.

BE THERE FOR ROUND 3 >>> Get your tickets now

Club President Martin Carter, joined by key figures from Werribee's 1993 and 2024 triumphs - Bruce Montgomery, Frank Lesiputty, Nick Coughlan, and Jack Henderson - and CEO Mark Penaluna, will participate in the flag unfurling ceremony at 12:45pm, ahead of the first bounce at 1:05pm.

Speaking after the 2024 Grand Final victory on the historical night, Carter said “It’s a 31-year overnight success. It has been a long time coming for the people of Werribee, anyone that’s had anything to do with it, whether it be small or big in their eyes, they’re part of it.

“This is for the Werribee Football Club and the Werribee community.”

Werribee’s first premiership came in 1993 under playing coach Donald McDonald. The club finished second on the ladder but needed a Jack Aziz match-winning goal in the Preliminary Final to make the decider. A dominant performance grand final day saw a 42-point Werribee victory over Port Melbourne.

The 2024 premiership ended a 31-year drought. After falling short in 2023, despite a club-record 17-game winning streak, Werribee under first-year coach Jimmy Allan defeated Southport in an all-standalone Grand Final. Trailing by 19 points in the third quarter, Werribee stormed home to secure a thrilling six-point victory.

Get to know those involved in the flag unfurling and their impact on the club…

Bruce Montgomery:
Bruce Montgomery is a Werribee Football Club Legend with a lasting legacy as a player and administrator. Playing 80 games and kicking 43 goals from 1969-1977, Bruce later served as Vice President (1991) and President (1992-1996). He formed the Golden Tigers and Top 20 Coteries and was the driving force behind the Tigers Clubhouse, shaping the club’s future. In recognition of his legacy, the club’s Best & Fairest Trophy is named in his honour.

Frank Lesiputty:
Frank Lesiputty will represent the 1993 Premiership side on Saturday. He played 72 games and kicked 32 goals in the famous number 23. To be part of the 1993 Grand Final victory he famously had seven injections in his shoulder following a dislocation in the preliminary final against Springvale. Frank was named in the Golden Tiger Team of the Decade (1992-2001) and among the club’s 50 Greats of 50 Years. Frank continues to attend Werribee games and is a very passionate and loyal supporter.

Nick Coughlan:
The first member of the 2024 playing group to be acknowledged on Saturday is 2023/24 club captain Nick Coughlan. Nick called time on his 106 game VFL career at the end of last season having played 80 games for Werribee since joining in 2018. A two-time VFL Team of the Year defender Coughlan played a key role in Werribee’s rise to the 2023 Grand Final and continued to lead the group in 2024. Although he was injured on the day, Coughlan was called on stage by coach Jimmy Allan to lift the cup following the Premiership victory.

Jack Henderson:
Rounding out the quartet the reigning Norm Goss Medallist from the 2024 Premiership day. Henderson, who recently realised his AFL dream by debuting for the Melbourne Football Club, played a pivotal role in Werribee's success. Jack featured in all 21 games of the 2024 season, earned a second VFL Team of the Year selection, and became a Werribee Football Club Life Member after reaching 100 games.

Relive that victory at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday with the unfurling of the flag. Buy your membership online now via this link.

MATCH DETAILS – ROUND 3
Werribee vs Footscray
Saturday, April 5, 1:05PM
Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval
Werribee

Round 3 Match Centre

Watch live at afl.com.au

Following our recent 2024 VFL Premiership success, the Werribee Football Club is excited to announce that our full suite of membership packages are now available for 2025.

2024 will forever be remembered for the drought-breaking Premiership, and in 2025... WE’RE GOING AGAIN. ARE YOU?

Sign up as a member for 2025 via this link.

One of Werribee’s longest-standing partnerships reaches another level in 2025, with Werribee Steel becoming a Gold Sponsor of the football club.

The 20-year partnership began with Werribee Steel providing pegs to secure ground covers and brackets for fence signage, it has now grown into one of the club’s most significant sponsorships.

Located just a kilometre from Avalon Airport Oval Werribee Steel began as a family-run business in 1967 and has grown into an industry leader with over 50 years of experience, providing top-quality solutions for builders statewide and locally seeking structural steelworks or homeowners with a unique vision of bespoke steel designs.

Werribee General Manager of Business Operations Justin Abrams praised the continued support of Werribee Steel:

“Werribee Steel are more than a sponsor, they are part of the WFC family.

The relationship Werribee Steel has with the wider WFC community is a testament to their ability to be involved on many different levels.

We are so excited that Rob and Marco have committed to the club as a Gold Sponsor for the first time. Their partnership is over 20 years and they obviously see the value of increasing their partnership level.

It is easy to strengthen our relationship with the Werribee Steel team when they are so supportive of the Club and come to all games, including interstate."

Long-time manager Marco De Muri spoke proudly about the company’s long-standing commitment to the club.

“We’ve loved being part of the club for over 20 years, and after two great years as a principal sponsor, we’re thrilled to step up to Gold.

We love coming to every game, traveling interstate to support the team, (Marco travelled to Southport to support the team in the season opener) and we can’t wait to continue backing Werribee in 2025 and beyond.”

As part of the Gold Sponsorship, Werribee Steel will once again feature front and centre on the players’ training singlets, while its branding will also be prominently displayed on the back of the club hoodie, as pictured above (L-R: Jake Smith, Jake Lohmann, Marco De Muri).

Find out more about Werribee Steel HERE.

Werribee football is back in just one week! Don’t miss our 2025 home opener as we unfurl the premiership flag at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval against Footscray in Round 3.

Get your tickets HERE.

The 2025 Smithy’s VFL State Team squad has been announced today ahead of the clash with the SANFL on April 12.

For the second consecutive year, the VFL will take on the SANFL, and reigning premiers Werribee have three players named in the 43-man squad: Dom Brew, Louis Pinnuck, and Jack Riding.

Dom Brew has again been named in the squad of 50 after a historic individual season in 2024.

Brew won almost everything possible, including the J.J. Liston Medal, a second consecutive Bruce Montgomery Trophy, and VFL Coaches MVP. The star midfielder was also the VFL Premiership Captain, and earned Werribee Life Member, all while averaging 28 disposals, 18 contested possessions, and 10 clearances per game.

Louis Pinnuck, Brew’s deputy vice-captain at Werribee, has also earned selection for the second straight year. Pinnuck was named in the final side in 2024 but was ruled out after suffering an injury in round 2.

2024 was a standout year for the 26-year-old defender. Pinnuck played 20 games, led the competition in total marks, finished top five in Werribee's best-and-fairest, and capped it off by receiving Life Membership of the club.

Rounding out the selections is Werribee’s Most Improved Player for 2024, Jack Riding.

Initially playing in defense, he moved forward and made an immediate impact, producing standout performances in Round 5 (17 disposals, 2 goals) and Round 6 (34 disposals, 10 inside 50s, 4 goal assists). He finished the season with 19 goals and was among the league’s top five in goal assists.

Riding carried that form into Werribee’s 2025 season opener against Southport, collecting 28 disposals and earning a team-high three coaches’ votes while playing through the midfield.

The clash between the Smithy’s VFL State Team and the SANFL’s West End State Team will take place at Tanunda Recreation Park in the Barossa on Saturday, April 12, from 2:45 pm ACST.

The final squad of 23 will be named closer to the game.

Werribee football is back in just one week! Don’t miss our 2025 home opener as we unfurl the premiership flag at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval against Footscray in Round 3.

Get your tickets HERE.