After joining the club in 2019, Development Manager Hamish MacInnes will depart Werribee after a six-season tenure across three different roles.

MacInnes departs after three successful seasons leading Werribee’s development program, concluding his tenure with the ultimate achievement, a premiership in his final year.

Working in his third role at the club, Hamish’s contribution to Werribee's development program has been widely recognised over the past few seasons. Former Werribee senior coach, now North Melbourne's head of development, Michael Barlow was full of praise, “Hamish MacInnes does a tremendous job in running the development area. It’s a holistic program where they come in, we develop their footy, but also we develop them as people.”

The program's success was evident this 2024 season, with ten players from the premiership team of 23 coming out of this year's development squad. These ten included Sam Azzi and Flynn Young, who went from a combined four games last season to each playing key roles in the Grand Final side, and Jack Riding, who earned Werribee's Most Improved Player award and a spot in the VFL Team of the Year 40-man squad after playing just four games himself in 2023.

MacInnes was appointed as the new head coach of North Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy in July this year. North Melbourne’s Head of Strategic Operations and Projects, Nathan Hrovat, emphasised Hamish’s value, “Hamish's background in teaching and his work in game development at AFL Vic and the Werribee Football Club further strengthens our connection with one of our NGA zones. He will be a great asset to our club, supporting the delivery of academy programs in the region through participation and talent identification initiatives."

MacInnes joined Werribee in 2019 as Community Development Manager, transitioning from AFL Victoria. After a season in the community role, he stepped up as interim Football Manager as Stuart Balloch took leave, working closely with Mark ‘Choco’ Williams.

After his time as interim Football Manager concluded, MacInnes was eager to stay within the football department. As he returned to university to study for his master’s degree, he transitioned from the community space to the role of Development Manager, a position he held for the past three seasons, as well as working as Werribee's matchday runner.

Reflecting on his time at the football club, MacInnes said “over the past five years, it’s incredible to think about how much richer my life has become thanks to being a part of such an amazing club. 

He added, “I hope I’ve been able to give back at least half of what Werribee has given me across the journey. I will always be a Werribee person.”

After offering MacInnes the role of Community Development Manager in 2019, CEO Mark Penaluna praised his six years of dedication to the club; "We’re incredibly proud of Hamish as he moves forward to enhance his credentials, and we’re pleased to have played a role in his personal development. Starting as Community Manager, he put in the hard yards through the challenges of COVID, supporting our community during difficult times."

Penaluna added, "Like others before him, Hamish has stepped into the elite sports field, joining the ranks of those who've gone on to the AFL, Cricket Australia, and the NBA, and we're so proud of Hamish as he embarks on this next chapter."