Werribee has finalised its coaching line-up for the 2025 season, the second for premiership-winning coach Jimmy Allan.

The reigning VFL Coach of the Year will again be supported by two of his premiership-winning assistants. Kyle Hartigan continues as backline coach while also stepping into the role of Football Manager.

Jarrod Young returns as midfield coach for a second season. A former Werribee player himself, Young arrived with a decorated playing career at both state league and local levels.

Andrew Hodgson is the first new addition to the coaching staff for 2025, stepping into the role of forward line coach. He replaces Matt Dowling, who departs after two seasons to take on a new career opportunity as Head of Middle School Sport at The Geelong College.

On his departure, Dowling spoke highly of the club, saying, “I will be forever indebted to the Werribee players, staff, and supporters for welcoming me and providing me with an opportunity to coach at such a well-established VFL club.”

Reflecting on his time at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, he added, “Being involved in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons was an incredible journey, and to be connected for life to this club through a premiership is something very special to me.”

Hodgson joins Werribee after serving as an assistant coach at South Barwon in the GFNL, where he helped guide the team to back-to-back Grand Final appearances. Before that, he was the head coach at Queenscliff in the BFL.

Kirk Heberle also joins the coaching staff for 2025, stepping into the role of Head of Development following the departure of Hamish MacInnes, who has moved into the AFL system with North Melbourne. A former state league player, Heberle brings coaching experience from the WFNL interleague teams and the junior ranks at Point Cook.

The club has also introduced a ruck coach for the 2025 season, welcoming back former Werribee ruckman and AFL cult figure Peter Street to take up that position. Standing as the equal-tallest AFL player in history, Street played 78 games for Geelong and the Western Bulldogs between 2001 and 2008. During the Bulldogs' VFL affiliation with Werribee, he also played 22 games in the yellow and black.

Mario Mathuranayagam resumes his role as a development coach, entering his fourth season at Werribee, while James O’Connor rounds out the coaching group. O’Connor arrives with VFL coaching experience, having been an assistant at Geelong’s VFL team last season while also serving as head coach of the Geelong Falcons U16 team in the Coates Talent League.

Pictured (L-R): James O'Connor, Kirk Heberle, Peter Street, Kyle Hartigan, James Allan, Andrew Hodgson, Jarrod Young, Mario Mathuranayagam