Dom Brew capped off his remarkable 2024 season by claiming Werribee's highest individual honour, the Bruce Montgomery Trophy as the club's best-and-fairest player.

Brew claimed his second consecutive best-and-fairest title to become Werribee’s second ever best-and-fairest winner in a premiership year. 

After leading by 19 votes at the conclusion of Round 20, Brew survived a late scare as Henderson made a charge with a standout finals series, which included a Norm Goss winning performance in the Grand Final, to finish with just a one vote win. 

The two midfielders finished clear of third-placed defender Jesse Clark, who had a career best season after being introduced into the leadership group ahead of the 2024 season, finishing on 179 votes. 

Defenders Riley Bice (176 votes) and Louis Pinnuck (172) rounded out the top five in a tight count.

Brew’s career best season saw the midfielder average 28.3 disposals and lead the VFL in clearances and inside 50s, as his long list of accolades included the VFL’s top honour, the J.J. Liston Trophy and the Team of the Year captaincy. 

Reflecting on the season, Brew shared his thoughts on the challenges he faced coming into the 2024 season, after the loss of many of his experienced teammates at the end of last year’s Grand Final losing campaign; “This year was incredibly tough for me. With so many experienced players leaving, I felt a heavy burden on my shoulders.

“Those boys were like a shield for me, and when they left, I put a lot of pressure on myself. I know I didn’t have to, but I did.”

But Brew believed it strengthened the connection within the team, saying it made them "closer than ever."

Brew was called to the stage several times throughout the night, adding the Trademark Player of the Year award to his accolades for the second consecutive season. He was also honored with Werribee Football Club Life Membership, alongside teammates Jack Henderson and Louis Pinnuck, who all reached the 100-game milestone in 2024. Reflecting on the honor, Brew said, “To get this, that means the most to me - means more to me than anything; as good as all individual accolades are, to be a life member of this great football club.”

The Ray Smith Award for best club person was also presented during the night. The award, named after the late-great, Werribee legend Ray Smith, who served in multiple roles, including as the club’s inaugural secretary from 1965-1975, was won by property manager Jimmy Masterson for the third time, after previously winning in 2008 and 2019.

Jimmy Masterson also presented the first award of the night, the property award which was given to Aidan Johnson, as Daly Andrews won the community development award, presented by Community Development Officer, Majok ‘Shaggy’ Ngong, and Jay Dahlhaus the trainers award, presented by head trainer, Sam Borg.

Michael Selsby won the Local Player Award, which ironically he could not be in attendance to collect, as he was invited to attend the Western Football Netball League awards night, where he finished third in the league medal for his outstanding season for Yarraville Seddon Eagles. 

Riley Bice, who finished fourth in the best-and-fairest count, was named Best First-Year Player after joining Werribee from Albury Tigers, where he had won the 2023 best-and-fairest. Bice earnt Team of the Year honours in his debut season, and was a finalist for the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal, after averaging 21.1 disposals and seven marks per game, while also ranking top five in the competition in effective kicks and running bounces.

Hudson Garoni was presented with the Leading Goalkicker Award from assistant coach Matt Dowling after a career high 49 goal season. Garoni won his third leading goalkicker award in a row, and made it 144 goals from his last four seasons after debuting in 2019. 

Another first year recruit, Cooper Whyte, who joined from Geelong’s AFL list, received the Coaches Award from Jimmy Allan, following a heartfelt speech by our premiership-winning and Team of the Year coach, where he took the time to personally thank each staff member., and Jack Riding claimed Most Improved Player, after going from four games in 2023 to becoming a key player and making the Team of the Year squad.

Nathan Cooper for the second consecutive season took home Best Defensive Player, while to no one’s surprise, Jack Henderson won Best Finals Player.