Werribee capped off their preparations for the 2025 Smithy’s VFL season with a 30-point win over Footscray at Whitten Oval.

In their final hit-out before launching their premiership defence, Jimmy Allan’s men proved too strong in warm conditions on Saturday, claiming a 12.4 (76) to 5.16 (46) victory.

Newly appointed captain Jesse Clark led the side out for the first time, with Werribee fielding its strongest lineup of the pre-season after rotating players throughout the first three matches.

Werribee was sharp early piling on four first-quarter goals. Small forward Zac Banch was electric early, kicking two while Werribee local Noah Tullio snapped his first goal in club colours with a clever kick out of the pack. Hudson Garoni, continuing his impressive form from last season—where he was the only player in the VFL to kick a goal in every game—also found the scoreboard.

Holding a narrow three-point lead at quarter time, Werribee tightened up defensively in the second term, keeping Footscray goalless to extend their advantage to 12 points at the main break.

Bior Malual, who has been in strong form this pre-season, floated forward from the wing to slot a goal, while Collingwood recruit Jedd Longmire calmly converted a set shot to add to Werribee’s tally.

Second-year midfeilder Jake Smith, who was prolific in the first half, opened the second-half scoring with a set shot goal, before defender Louis Pinnuck pushed forward to soccer home what might be the easiest major of his career from the goal line.

The warm conditions didn’t slow Werribee, as they surged home with a four-goal-to-none final quarter. Hudson Garoni capped off his pre-season with two late majors, while Zac Banch added another, both finishing as the game's leading goalkickers with three each.

FINAL SCORE:
Footscray: 3.4 3.7 5.13 5.16 (46)
Werribee: 4.1 6.1 8.2 12.4 (76)

GOALS:
Werribee: Z. Banch (3), H. Garoni (3), J. Longmire, B. Malual, L. Pinnuck, J. Smith, N. Tullio, F. Young

IMAGE GALLERY – VIEW HERE

Next Match – Round 1
Southport vs Werribee
Saturday March 22, 12:05PM*
Fankhauser Reserve, Southport
*Local Time

Following our recent 2024 VFL Premiership success, the Werribee Football Club is excited to announce that our full suite of membership packages are now available for 2025.

2024 will forever be remembered for the drought-breaking Premiership, and in 2025... WE’RE GOING AGAIN. ARE YOU?

Sign up as a member for 2025 via this link.

Werribee is pleased to partner with the North Melbourne Football Club across their VFLW and Next Generation Academy (NGA) programs.

The three-year partnership will see North Melbourne’s VFLW team named the North Melbourne Werribee Kangaroos and play up to four games a season at Werribee’s home of Avalon Airport Oval, including two games confirmed for 2025.

Werribee will also expand its support for the delivery of North Melbourne’s NGA program in the City of Wyndham, designed to identify and develop young multicultural and Indigenous footballers from the region, after first joining forces in 2023.

North Melbourne general manager of women’s football Erin Lorenzini said the partnership was an opportunity to invest further in the game in the Wyndham region.

“This new partnership with the Werribee Football Club builds on North Melbourne’s long-standing connection to the City of Wyndham and is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen both the game’s presence in the region and our women’s football and talent pathway programs,” Lorenzini said.

“Our VFLW team will continue to train and play games at North Melbourne’s home of Arden Street Oval but will now have access to Werribee’s state-of-the-art facilities at Avalon Airport Oval.

“Werribee is an important hub in the City of Wyndham, and we look forward to working with them to introduce more people to football and grow the pipeline of talent in the region.”

Werribee CEO Mark Penaluna said the partnership would support greater local participation in women’s football.

“This partnership will provide enormous opportunities for local female players to take that important and challenging step to the elite level and enables our club to begin our journey into women’s football,” Penaluna said.

“The ongoing relationship we have with North Melbourne has been beneficial to both clubs, to football and the community, and this venture is a natural progression for both.

“We believe this model is the best outcome for growing the female game in Wyndham for current and future players, plus others wishing to get involved in women’s football.”

North Melbourne’s connection to the City of Wyndham spans more than 16 years.

The club’s VFL program was affiliated with the Werribee Football Club from 2008 – 2017, while its community arm, The Huddle, operating out of its satellite office at Avalon Airport Oval, has delivered programs to more than 50,000 children and young people across the region since 2016 to strengthen their education and employment outcomes through the power of sport.

Most recently, members of North Melbourne’s AFL team visited schools and hosted a clinic in the region as part of the AFL’s annual Community Camp program.

The North Melbourne Werribee Kangaroos and reigning VFLW premiers will kick off their 2025 campaign on Friday, April 18 against Carlton at Arden Street Oval.

Following our recent 2024 VFL Premiership success, the Werribee Football Club is excited to announce that our full suite of membership packages are now available for 2025.

2024 will forever be remembered for the drought-breaking Premiership, and in 2025... WE’RE GOING AGAIN. ARE YOU?

Sign up as a member for 2025 via this link.

Following our recent 2024 VFL Premiership success, the Werribee Football Club is excited to announce that our full suite of membership packages are now available for 2025.

2024 will forever be remembered for the drought-breaking Premiership, and in 2025... WE’RE GOING AGAIN. ARE YOU?

Sign up as a member for 2025 via this link.

With less than two weeks until the 2025 Smithy’s VFL season begins, Werribee is close to finalising its list after securing the signatures of three former Port Melbourne teammates.

Sam Allen, Spencer Johnson, and Cameron Wild have all joined the club, with Johnson making his return at Werribee after originally spending the 2022 season as a rookie.

2025 is Johnson’s fourth season at VFL level. His 2023 season with the Northern Bullants was a breakout campaign, playing 17 games, averaging over 21 disposals and five marks per match. He finished third in the Bullants’ best and fairest and was a finalist for the league’s Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal, finishing behind eventual winner, Werribee’s Sam Clohesy. 2024 saw Johnson change to Port Melbourne, playing six games.

The 23-year-old Johnson currently plays for Altona at the local level, having also played his junior football there before representing the Western Jets in the NAB League during his Under-18 years.

Cam Wild joins Werribee after spending the 2024 season with Port Melbourne. The 23-year-old inside midfielder makes the switch with 16 games of VFL experience under his belt.

Like Johnson, Wild played for the Bullants in 2023 before moving to Port Melbourne last season. In his debut VFL campaign, he made an immediate impact, collecting 22 disposals in a win over Sydney and maintaining strong form to average 23 disposals and 10 contested possessions per game. In 2024, he made his Port Melbourne debut in Round 5 against Gold Coast and went on to average 16 disposals and four tackles per game for the Borough.

Wild brings a wealth of senior football experience to Werribee, having debuted at state league level with SANFL club Central District during the COVID-affected 2020 season. He has also played in the Northern Territory, representing NTFL clubs Nightcliff and Waratah, and currently represents Hurstbridge in the Northern Football League.

Sam Allen rounds out the trio of new recruits, with the 23-year-old making his VFL debut with Port Melbourne in 2024 after previously spending time with Box Hill.

The key defender finished last season on a strong note, taking six marks in a Round 21 win over the Northern Bullants. At local level, he played with Park Orchards in the Eastern Football League, playing a key role in their Grand Final campaign.

Allen has impressed throughout Werribee’s pre-season, featuring in all three practice matches so far.

The trio played together in Port Melbourne’s Round 21 win over the Bullants and have already shared the field in Werribee’s first practice match against Frankston last month. They’ll be joined at Werribee by a fourth former Port Melbourne teammate, Harry Maguire, who signed with the club for the 2025 season, with his signing announced in January.

With the Smithy’s VFL season now just 11 days away, Werribee shifts its focus to its final practice match against Footscray at Whitten Oval this Saturday.