Werribee kicked off their 2025 Smithy’s VFL season preparations with a hitout against Frankston on Friday night.

Taking on the Dolphins under the Friday night lights at Belvedere Reserve, Werribee rotated a mix of youth and experience with 35 players hitting the deck across the two halves.

Frankston started strongly with the opening two goals, but Harry Maguire responded with a contested mark and set-shot conversion to register Werribee’s first unofficial goal of 2025.

Werribee’s key forwards looked dangerous in the second term, with 2024 leading goalkicker Hudson Garoni picking up where he left off, slotting two goals for the quarter. Maguire added his second as Werribee took a four point lead into the main break.

Bior Malual was classy as always through the first half, while new recruit Ryan Eyers, arriving from Geelong, stood tall in defence. Cooper Whyte was lively around the contest.

With significant rotations in the second half, several younger players got their chance, including Western Jets recruit Isaac Nixon, who snapped a classy goal to kick off the third quarter.

In the final term, Jedd Longmire put Werribee in front with a stoppage goal, smartly set up by Eyers' ruck tap. Frankston wrestled back the lead and held on in the dying stages to claim an eight-point win.

FINAL SCORE:
Werribee: 1.3 4.5 5.6 6.7 (43)
Frankston: 2.1 4.1 6.3 8.3 (51)

GOALS:
H. Garoni (2), H. Maguire (2), J. Longmire, I. Nixon