Werribee has continued to secure its core talent for the upcoming season, with local boy Jaelen Pavlidis the latest to put pen to paper and re-sign for 2026.

The 2025 campaign saw Pavlidis celebrate his 50th VFL appearance, a milestone that carried extra meaning as it came for the club he grew up around.

After winning a premiership with Werribee in his first season, just a day after his 21st birthday, Pavlidis was among the first players announced to recommit for 2025. He built on that breakthrough year with another consistent campaign, playing 16 matches in 2025.

His season included a short stint on the sidelines following a concussion suffered in a clash of heads with teammate Spencer Johnson in Werribee’s tough loss to Casey.

Pavlidis’ numbers rose across the board in 2025. He averaged career highs of 15 disposals, 12.1 kicks, and 6.6 marks per game, and recorded the third-highest disposal efficiency in the side as he continued to set up play from defence.

His 50th VFL game proved one of his finest, earning Werribee’s Totally Workwear Player of the Match in the Round 16 milestone clash. Coach Jimmy Allan praised the performance, saying, “Under attack for a large percentage of the night, Jaelen was back to his defensive best. He was assertive in his positioning and was able to win the ball back for us on numerous occasions.”

Speaking on his decision to stay on, Pavlidis said, “I was super keen to lock in signing at the club again for 2026. To be honest, it was a no-brainer as I’m fully invested in helping Werribee get back to the pointy end of the ladder where we belong.”

He added, “Although it wasn’t the best year wins-wise, there was plenty of growth in a lot of areas. I’m very excited to be a part of what’s to come.”

Pavlidis joined Werribee ahead of the 2024 season from GWS, where he played 18 VFL games as a midfielder across two years. He made an immediate switch to defence on arrival and debuted in Round 1 against Geelong at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval.

Football runs deep for the Pavlidis family at Werribee. His father, John, a former player (WFC #408), also served as a runner, welfare manager and recruiting manager, and is a Werribee life member for his long-standing contribution to the club.

Pavlidis impressed from the outset of his Werribee career, earning Player of the Round honours in just his third game with 20 disposals and seven marks in a win over Richmond. He sat fourth in the best-and-fairest after Round 6 of that year and played 16 straight games before a hamstring injury in Round 18 against Port Melbourne. He returned six weeks later for the preliminary final against Brisbane, where he was named among the best as Werribee advanced to the Grand Final and claimed premiership glory.

The 22-year-old will enter the 2026 VFL season with 52 VFL games to his name, including 34 in the black and gold.