Werribee has received a major boost ahead of Saturday's clash with Southport, with life member and 2024 premiership player Bior Malual returning to the club as one of two inclusions for Round 15.

Malual originally announced his retirement at the end of the 2025 VFL season after bringing up his 100th game one week earlier. He finished his decorated Werribee career on 101 VFL games following a Round 21 victory over the Northern Bullants.

But after spending the opening half of the 2026 season playing local football, the hard-running half back and wingman has returned to the club where he built an outstanding legacy.

Malual returns in strong form after booting three goals last weekend at local level.

Joining him in the side is Jay Dahlhaus, who returns after missing a month with a lacerated liver sustained in a heavy collision while playing for Leopold. Dahlhaus made an immediate impact in his return last weekend, kicking six goals as Leopold handed previously undefeated St Mary's its first loss of the season.

Saturday will mark Malual's eighth season pulling on the black and gold.

Originally from South Sudan, Malual moved to Australia at five years old alongside his five siblings. His family's remarkable journey saw them walk more than 1,500 kilometres to escape South Sudan into Kenya before eventually settling in Australia in 2002.

After growing up in Melbourne's west, Malual's arrival at Werribee has become club folklore.

Following a best-on-ground performance in Airport West's 2018 EDFL Grand Final triumph, he was invited to train with the club after his older brother, who was Werribee's Diversity Manager at the time, recommended he trial.

On the opening day of pre-season, Malual stunned coach Mark 'Choco' Williams by completing the club's famous 3km time trial at Princes Park in just 9 minutes and 15 seconds.

That performance earned him a spot on Werribee's 2019 list, and he made an immediate impression on debut in Round 1, collecting 12 disposals, six marks and a goal.

Malual played 19 games in his debut season, kicking 19 goals, before earning an invitation to the AFL State Draft Combine, where he recorded the best agility and yo-yo test results. He also finished runner-up in Werribee's Best First Year Player Award behind future AFL footballer Jake Riccardi.

He quickly established himself as one of the competition's most reliable and versatile players, bringing up his 50th VFL game in 2023 against Footscray.

Malual enjoyed another outstanding season in 2024, playing every game of Werribee's premiership campaign while averaging 17 disposals and seven marks per game. He finished in the top 10 of the club's best and fairest for the third time before capping off the year with a VFL premiership medal.

His final season in 2025 was arguably his finest in the black and gold. As the oldest player on Werribee's list, Malual earned four Player of the Match awards across the opening 14 rounds before suffering a facial injury in Round 16. After missing four matches, he returned in Round 20 to celebrate his 100th VFL game against Southport, finishing with 17 disposals and six marks in a memorable milestone performance. He went on to finish equal runner-up in Werribee's Best and Fairest despite missing four games, before announcing his retirement at season's end.

Now, after a brief stint away from the club, one of Werribee's favourite sons is back in the black and gold, adding another chapter to an already remarkable Werribee career.