Louis Pinnuck has been named captain of the Smithy’s VFL State Team.

Pinnuck, in his tenth season with the club, will lead the Big V as the VFL does battle with their counterparts from the South Australian Football League during the Gather Round festivities in Adelaide.

The appointment marks his third selection at representative level. After being selected when the clash returned in 2024, Pinnuck was a late out, before returning in 2025 to play a starring role in the VFL’s first win over the SANFL in 23 years.

Trailing at the final change, the VFL and SANFL went goal for goal early in the last quarter, until Pinnuck, running off half-back, broke the deadlock. In the space of three minutes, he kicked two goals to give the VFL the lead and then extend the margin to 11 points.

It was a rare feat for the reliable defender, who has kicked multiple goals in a game just three times across his VFL career. Pinnuck’s burst helped the Big V pile on four of the final five goals to deny the Croweaters a sixth consecutive win.

The defender’s two last-quarter goals went with 21 disposals and six marks to earn him the Frank Johnson Medal as the VFL’s best player.

Pinnuck said the opportunity to lead the Big V meant a lot:

"I have so much pride in representing my club and Victoria, and to be given the captaincy is something that means a lot to me. I am really passionate about the VFL, and wearing the Big V is an incredible privilege. We’ve got an extremely talented squad, and I can’t wait to prove we are the best state league in Australia and go back-to-back."

The appointment follows the announcement of the final 25-man selected side, with Werribee having five representatives, the most of any club in the competition.

Pinnuck will lead out fellow teammates Dom Brew, who captained the side the last two seasons, Werribee’s current skipper Jesse Clark, Ryan Eyers and Jack Riding.

There will also be a strong Werribee presence off field with senior coach Dan Lowther an assistant coach of the state side.

The honour comes on top of Pinnuck moving into the top ten for games played in Werribee history. His 126th appearance in the game against Geelong last weekend.

Since debuting in 2017, Pinnuck has developed into one of the club’s most consistent performers across half-back, playing 126 games and becoming a key part of Werribee’s backline. His journey has included a Most Improved Player award in 2022, leadership elevation in 2023, life membership and a premiership in 2024, before producing career-best form in 2025 and earning multiple VFL State Team selections, highlighted by a Frank Johnson Medal.

The match will be played as part of a representative double-header at Glenelg’s Stratarama Stadium on Saturday, April 11, with the VFLW clash from 12:00pm followed by the VFL from 2:30pm.

Werribee’s presence extends to the VFLW level as well. The North Melbourne Werribee Kangaroos have the most representatives with six players named in the final side including Renee Tierney named state captain.