Werribee has retained a mix of key position talent, leadership and quality with Nathan Cooper, Nick Hayes, Josh Porter and Bior Malual all re-signing for 2023. 

Hayes and Porter, both 28, are two of the team’s elder statesmen with Hayes having played footy across three different states while Porter has now had three stints in the VFL with Werribee.  

The pair offered great versatility in 2022, South Australian-native Hayes was again crucial in the forward half with his ability to play up the ground or close to goal while Porter provided sure hands in attack and plenty of minutes as a back-up ruckman. 

Hulking fullback Cooper enters his third year at the club and will be hoping for some continuity with his footy next season after a COVID-year and then an injury-affected 2022 that limited him to 12 games.   

Malual is approaching 50 games for the club after breaking through at VFL level in 2019 and will again be relied upon for his dash and as one of the side’s best kicks.   

“It’s great to have these four guys re-commit for another season as they’re all hugely important to us at both ends of the ground,” Werribee football manager Mark Micallef said.  

“Josh and Nick are two of our most experienced players and are so important to our forward group thanks to their football IQ and ability to direct and educate our younger players. 

“Nathan is one of our key posts down back and was terrific early in the season before going down with injury while Bior is crucial to the way we play with his hard running and beautiful ball use.” 

Meanwhile Ollie Hanrahan recently informed the club he will take some time away from football in 2023 after deciding to focus on cricket over the next 12 months. 

Harahan joined Werribee after five seasons in the AFL with Hawthorn and was a quality addition for the club with his class on full display in several matches in 2022, most notably against his former club Box Hill in round 19.  

Hanrahan will appear for Hawthorn Kingston in Victorian Premier Cricket this summer and then plans to spend next winter playing in England. 

Picture (left to right): Josh Porter, Nathan Cooper, Bior Malual, Nick Hayes.