With Werribee’s list taking shape for the upcoming season, there’s exciting news on the ruck front with premiership big man Sam Conway and returning face Darcy Bennett re-signing for 2025. 

In addition to the re-signing of the two key ruckmen, the club is excited to welcome back former Werribee ruckman and AFL cult figure, Peter Street, to strengthen its coaching staff for the upcoming season.

Standing as the equal-tallest AFL player in history, Street played 78 games for Geelong and the Western Bulldogs from 2001 to 2008, and during the Bulldogs affiliation with Werribee, played 22 games with Werribee. 

Sam Conway enjoyed a career-best season in 2024 after missing the entirety of the season prior with a lower leg injury. The ruckman reclaimed the number one ruck mantle to play 16 games, a personal best tally at VFL level.

Making his return after his long layoff, Conway started 2024 as the team’s sole ruckman, squaring off against his brother at the opening bounce of the season, and was named among the best players in each of his first two games since the end of 2022.

A midseason stint with Uni Blacks in the VAFA followed Werribee’s disappointing ANZAC Day loss to Williamstown, but Conway returned in Round 13 with a dominant 32-hitout, 11-disposal performance. This started a run of three consecutive games being named in the best and saw Conway play out of the remainder of the season.

After two impressive finals, including Conway amassing a career–high 56 hitouts against Brisbane in the preliminary final, he faced the challenge of taking on Southport captain and VFL Team of the Year squad member Brayden Crossley in the Grand Final. In the second half, as Werribee rallied to a come-from-behind victory to break their 31-year premiership draught, Conway successfully curbed Crossley’s influence; “He’s probably the best ruckman in the league so I wasn’t going to win as many hitouts as usual” Conway said post-match, “Jimmy said I just had to quell his impact and I think I did that OK. He still got a fair few out, but I just had to compete and try my best.”

Reflecting on Conway’s importance, Football Manager Ash Collins said, “We're pumped to have Sticks back on board. Down by 3 goals at halftime in the Grand Final, he set the tone for the second half with his first contest after the break. He is really important to our mix in contests and stoppages."

Darcy Bennett returned to Werribee for his second stint ahead of the 2024 season, having previously spent three years on the list from 2019 to 2021. In 2019, the ruckman played eight games, averaging 20 hitouts per match, which attracted him AFL interest and put him on the radar of AFL clubs.

Bennett's last state league appearance was in the SANFL, where he joined Werribee teammate Jack Henderson at Sturt during Victoria's COVID lockdown in 2020 and played seven games for the Double Blues.

After a two-year break from football, Bennett impressed during the 2024 pre-season. However, his momentum was halted by a hamstring injury in the final practice match against the Bulldogs—a game where he had already kicked two goals by half-time. The setback sidelined the ruckman for the first half of the season. Bennett did manage to make his way back onto the field, playing six local-level games with Banyule in the Northern Football Netball League.

“Darcy is an untapped gem,” Collins said. “We’re excited to get some continuity into his body and training loads. He set himself up well last year, and we can’t wait for him to do it again.”