With all levels of football now complete for the 2025 season, the Werribee Football Club is pleased to announce its first re-signing for 2026, with captain Jesse Clark among the first to put pen to paper for the upcoming VFL campaign.

In his first season as skipper, Clark was one of five Werribee players to feature in all 18 games. He averaged career highs in disposals (15.9), kicks (12.4) and rebound 50s (3.8), and finished sixth in the Bruce Montgomery Trophy count.

At the end of the 2025 season, Clark had taken his tally to 69 VFL games. With the retirements of Hudson Garoni and Angus Hicks, he will be one of Werribee’s most experienced players heading into 2026.

Speaking on his decision to go around again for a seventh season at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, the leader defender said: "I am very excited to be continuing with this great club; it was a no-brainer for me. Whilst disappointed with how the 2025 season played out, I know that myself and the rest of the group will be returning with a genuine sense of optimism and hunger to get back to the pointy end of the season in 2026."

Clark’s journey with Werribee has been one of persistence and growth.

After being restricted to just 13 matches across his first three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and an ACL injury, he broke through for a personal-best 20 games in 2024. That year he averaged 15 disposals and seven marks per game and produced a strong finals series that saw him surge from equal eighth after Round 20 to finish third in the best and fairest in the premiership year.

Football Manager Kyle Hartigan is pleased to have our captain locked in for 2026.

“It’s great to have Jesse back on board. He's been a pillar of consistency in the backline over the last three years, leading the way for the club both on and off the field.”