Werribee has secured two more premiership players for 2025, with breakout key position pillars Aidan Johnson and Sam Azzi re-signing for the upcoming season.

Both players, products of the Ovens and Murray Football League, broke into the team this year after overcoming injury setbacks last season, to play important roles in the premiership-winning campaign.

Defender Sam Azzi and forward Aidan Johnson joined Werribee from North Albury and Lavington, respectively. Johnson, recruited midway through 2021, followed in the footsteps of former Lavington teammate and 2023 Werribee draftee Shaun Mannagh, saying, “Shaun Mannagh went off to Werribee, and I soon followed him a year later.” Azzi, recruited ahead of the 2023 season, also had a connection with Werribee through premiership captain Dom Brew, from his North Albury days. Brew, the J.J. Liston Trophy winner, shared his strong bond with the pair, stating, “I’ve got a soft spot for Sammy and Johnno; they’re both from back home.”

He continued his praise during his J.J. Liston speech, adding, “To see them take the next step, they’re playing their own way and doing a bloody good job." 

Johnson entered the 2024 season with only one game to his name, having made his debut under extraordinary circumstances. The key forward was called up as a late inclusion for Michael Sodomaco after completing a running session that morning ahead of the 2021 match against the Northern Bullants. With a strong pre-season, including a standout performance in a practice match against Geelong, Johnson was selected in Werribee’s Round 1 clash. After he missed the traditional jumper presentation before his debut, Dom Brew, ahead of the matchup with the Cats, presented him with his guernsey, acknowledging Johnson’s perseverance: “You’ve had a hard couple of years, and you finally get some reward.” Johnson made the most of his opportunity, kicking his first career goal and gathering 14 disposals.

Johnson went on to feature in every game up until sustaining a bicep injury in Round 13 against Sydney. Remarkably, he returned after just one week and hit a rich vein of form, kicking eight goals across the next three matches. His breakout season concluded in a seventh-place finish in the best and fairest count and a premiership medal. Reflecting on his journey, Johnson said, “This year I got my body right. I dropped about 13kg. I felt on top of the world, and it has all come together.” 

As Brew spoke highly of Johnson throughout the year, Johnson shared his admiration for Brew, saying, “Dom Brew has just been massive. We work together as well, so we do a lot together. I was in a pretty dark place with all of these injuries, not thinking I was going to get back, but he helped me work through that.”

Sam Azzi, after joining the club in 2023 came into this season with three Werribee games next to his name, having battled injuries and making five local appearances for the ‘Hoppers’ in his debut campaign. The key defender started the season at local level, but after three consecutive standout performances playing for Yarraville Seddon this year, he broke into the VFL side in Round 14 against Sydney. Azzi quickly impressed, and only two matches later, with injuries to Nathan Cooper and Nick Coughlan was given the task of taking on the opposition’s number one key forward weekly.  

The defender delivered a career-best performance late in the home-and-away season in Werribee’s Round 19 clash against Southport, where he clocked up 16 spoils, the second-highest tally in a VFL game for the season.

As Nathan Cooper returned for the finals series, they formed a key defensive partnership as Werribee went on a premiership-winning finals run.