Werribee midfielder-forward Jack Riding is set to bring up his 50th game for the football club when he runs out in Sunday’s Round 10 clash with Essendon at Windy Hill.

The milestone will come in Riding’s ninth appearance of the 2026 season, with the in-form ball-winner entering the clash after kicking goals in each of his last five outings.

Riding joined Werribee for the 2023 season after earning a list spot through the club’s pre-season trial period, coming off the back of a standout 2022 campaign at North Ballarat where he claimed the club’s best-and-fairest award.

After dominating the opening half of the 2023 Ballarat Football League season, including a remarkable outing featuring 39 disposals, seven goals and 31 score involvements, he made his VFL debut in Round 9 against Gold Coast.

In a memorable come-from-behind win over the eventual premiers, Riding finished with a goal on debut alongside nine disposals, immediately showing signs of the impact he could have at state league level.

He would go on to play four games in his debut Werribee season before returning to North Ballarat, where he featured in a heartbreaking one-point Grand Final loss to Darley.

Riding made a significant leap in 2024, increasing his games tally from four to 20 and claiming Werribee’s Most Improved Player award during the club’s premiership season.

After initially beginning the year across half-back, the left-footer found himself out of the side for Round 4 before being recalled less than 24 hours later following a late injury withdrawal to Cooper Whyte.

Senior coach Jimmy Allan later reflected on the moment, saying “He was actually filthy. Even when I told him he was in again, he was still filthy. He’s so competitive and he was still angry we left him out in the first place.”

Riding returned against Williamstown in Round 5, gathering 17 disposals and kicking two goals in an important win.

A week later against Carlton, he produced one of the breakout performances of Werribee’s season, collecting 34 disposals, ten marks and four goal assists in a dominant display that cemented his spot in the side.

Riding’s ability to impact both on the scoreboard and in ball movement quickly became one of Werribee’s biggest weapons, with the classy left-footer leading the VFL in both goal assists and score assists midway through the season.

An untimely shoulder injury suffered against Port Melbourne in Round 18 interrupted his outstanding campaign, but Riding returned late in the home-and-away season and played an important role throughout Werribee’s premiership-winning finals run.

One of the key moments came in the Grand Final, where the left-footer kicked Werribee’s only second quarter goal to reduce the margin to 13 points heading into half time, helping steady the side before its second-half comeback.

Alongside the club’s Most Improved award, he finished in the top ten of the Bruce Montgomery Trophy count and earned selection in the VFL Team of the Year 40-man squad after averaging 19 disposals and five marks per game, while ranking among the competition leaders for score involvements, score assists and goal assists.

Riding elevated his game again in 2025, transitioning from half-forward into a permanent midfield role after the club lost Jack Henderson as a SSP signing to Melbourne late in the pre-season, quickly becoming a major piece of Werribee’s engine room.

Across 17 games he averaged a career-high 24 disposals, alongside five tackles and five clearances per game, with only injury in Round 3 preventing him from playing every match of the season.

His explosiveness around stoppage and ability to drive the ball forward saw him rank among the competition leaders for inside 50s, while his consistency across the second half of the year was among the best in the league.

Riding recorded 32 or more disposals in four of his final seven matches, including equal career-high 36-disposal performances against Williamstown and the Northern Bullants.

His strong finish saw him storm home in the Bruce Montgomery Trophy count, climbing from 10th after Round 16 to finish equal fourth alongside Jake Smith on 157 votes, just one vote behind joint runners-up Hudson Garoni and Bior Malual.

Having continued to elevate his game across back-to-back seasons Riding also attracted significant AFL interest, earning the opportunity to train with Hawthorn across the summer in pursuit of a list spot.

While ultimately returning to Werribee for 2026, Riding also received representative honours earlier this year, selected in the VFL State Team to take on the SANFL in his first appearance at representative level.

Playing primarily forward, he impressed with 15 disposals, eight tackles and two goal assists in the Big V victory.

Back at club level, the 25-year-old has again been among Werribee’s most consistent performers throughout 2026, playing all eight matches to begin the season.

He is averaging 23 disposals and six tackles per game, while also leading the club for score involvements and kicking goals in all but two games so far this year.

Werribee will look to make it back-to-back wins this weekend when they take on Essendon in Sunday afternoon football at Windy Hill.

The Round 10 clash gets underway at 12:05pm, with Werribee making its first trip to the venue since 2022.

For fans unable to make it to Windy Hill, the match will be streamed live and free on afl.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.

MATCH DETAILS - ROUND 6
Werribee vs Essendon
Sunday, May 31, 12:05pm
Windy Hill, Essendon

Round 10 Match Centre

Watch live on afl.com.au