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Pinnuck To Return For Ninth Season

After earning his life membership with the Werribee Football Club during the 2024 campaign, Louis Pinnuck will return for his ninth VFL season, with the defender re-signing for 2025.

The ever-reliable defender brought up his 100th game earlier this year in Round 16 against Coburg, in his eighth season with the club after joining as an 18-year-old TAC Cup graduate from the Murray Bushrangers in 2016.

2024 was a year to celebrate for the 26-year-old defender. Playing in 20 games Pinnuck led the competition in total marks, earned selection in the Smithy’s VFL representative team as the Big V returned to state of origin footy against the SANFL, finished in the top five for Werribee's best-and-fairest and capped it all off with premiership success in his 107th game. 

Reflecting on his re-signing Pinnuck stated, “I absolutely love the club. We had an unbelievable year just gone and there was no way that I wouldn’t go round again.”

“I know all of the boys are super keen to get stuck in again and give it another crack”. 

Pinnuck made his debut for Werribee in Round 5, 2017, following three games in the VFL Development League. He quickly established himself, playing 12 games in his first season and averaging 13 disposals while kicking seven goals, which remains a personal best goal tally. The impressive debut season earned him a selection in the AFL Victoria Young Guns game. He has since become a mainstay in Werribee’s backline, enjoying a breakout year in 2022 when he won the Most Improved Player award and celebrated his 50th game.

Following his breakout season in 2022, Pinnuck was inducted into the leadership group in 2023 and featured in all 21 games, marking his third consecutive season without missing a match. In the Grand Final season, he achieved career-high averages of 19.7 disposals and 7.7 marks per game, which saw him selected in the VFL representative side in the new year.

Senior coach Jimmy Allan was full of praise for the star defender, in the lead up to Pinnuck's 100th game, saying, “Louis is a star and one of the first picked. His selection in the VFL team at the start of the year was just reward for his consistency over a number of years.”

“He’s a leader at our footy club which is evidence of the high regard in which he is held by our players and staff.”

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Join Us For Our 2024 Family Day

The Werribee Football Club Family Day is back, and it’s bigger than ever as we celebrate our first premiership in 31 years!

Join us at Avalon Airport Oval on Sunday, November 24th, to celebrate the year that was. Enjoy a premiership cup presentation, opportunities to meet your premiership stars, and a variety of footy and kids’ activities! With a DJ, food trucks, and more, there’s something for everyone—it’s a day not to be missed!

The much sought-after brand-new range of premiership merchandise will be available for purchase on the day, as well as our 2025 memberships.

Details:

  • Sunday, 24 November
  • 11am – 2pm
  • Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee

Join Us For:

  • Premiership cup presentation
  • Meet and greets with Werribee players
  • Kids activities
  • Football activities
  • DJ
  • Food trucks
  • Premiership merchandise
  • Merchandise and memberships sales

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Pair of Harry's Confirmed for 2025

Werribee has now secured 13 confirmed re-signings in the month following its drought-breaking premiership, with Harry Grintell and Harrison Miller both committing to the 2025 season.

Grintell enjoyed a career-best season at VFL level, which saw him play every game in 2024. Meanwhile, Miller, who was part of the Western Jets’ leadership group in 2023, earned a train-on spot with Werribee in 2024, with the 19-year-old impressing to earn a list spot for next season.

Harry Grintell came to Werribee ahead of the 2023 season after two years with the GWS Giants' VFL team, having graduated from the Giants academy.

Following 13 games as a small forward in his debut season, including a two-goal performance in the Grand Final, Grintell kicked off the 2024 season in the same role and started in rich goal-kicking form. He kicked six goals through the first four matches of the season, which included Werribee’s first of the 2024 campaign, and a Goal of the Year candidate in Round 2 against Southport.

Midway through the season, in Werribee’s clash away in Gold Coast, Grintell was switched to the wing at half-time to do a role on veteran AFL winger Brandon Ellis. He responded with 16 disposals and six inside 50s, in an impressive outing that saw him become a wingman for the remainder of the season.

Grintell played every game for the rest of the season, one of just six players to do so, and brought up his 50th VFL game in Round 18 against Port Melbourne. In the premiership-winning campaign, he averaged a career high 11.7 disposals and kicked a career-high 12 goals. Reflecting on his success, Grintell stated “I didn't think we’d be going for two flags in two years (when I came down from GWS), but it was a really good effort and a massive shout out to all the Werribee fans and Werribee staff, they are unreal.”

Commenting on the re-signing, Football Manager Ash Collins praised Grintell’s second-year rise: "Harry has become a mainstay in the side, didn’t miss a game, and was one of a handful to do so." Collins added, "He's been a pivotal part of the team, and we're excited to bring him back for next season."

19-year-old Harry Miller spent 2024 as a train-on player with the club after spending his draft year with the Western Jets in the NAB League.

Splitting his time between Werribee and the VAFA’s Williamstown CYMS, Miller had a difficult start to the year with a long-term injury, but upon his return from the sidelines in Round 13, Miller went on to kick 16 goals in six games for the CY's including four games where he was named in the best. He made a difference for the VAFA club, who had won only two games prior to his comeback, helping them go on a run of four consecutive undefeated matches and ultimately finish seventh on the ladder, avoiding relegation.

Miller spent the two seasons prior with the Western Jets, making a memorable debut in Round 1 against Brisbane Academy in 2022, where he kicked three goals at 17 years of age.

His maiden NAB League campaign saw Miller finish fourth in the best-and-fairest, behind Jaelen Pavlidis, and win the Coaches Award as he finished with 19 goals from 13 games.

In 2023, his second season with the Jets, Miller was announced part of the leadership group, alongside future Werribee teammate Jake Smith.

Miller is the first of the confirmed re-signings for the 2025 season to be elevated from a train-on player to the list, with Ash Collins praising the forward “It’s been a tough year for Harry through injury, but testament to his commitment traveling back and fourth with no guarantees”.

“He showed good signs in training and we’re excited for what he can do on our list next year.”

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Bior Malual Signs On For Seventh Season With Werribee

Bior Malual, the second-oldest player on Werribee’s premiership-winning list, has committed to a seventh season with the club after the wingmen re-signed for 2025.

Malual put pen to paper on a new deal to continue what has been a great career with the club, playing 85 games since his debut in 2019.  

The 28-year-old featured in all 21 games this season as his consistent performance helped Werribee cap off their first minor premiership since 2005 with a second premiership in club history, and has just missed the one game in the last two seasons. 

Malual’s journey with the club began when he was invited to train in the 2019 pre-season after a best-on-ground medal for Airport West in the 2018 Essendon District league Grand Final. He had previously spent time on Western Jets' list as a teenager and played for the Northern Blues in the 2017 AFL Victoria Development League season.

Malual caught Mark ‘Choco’ Williams’ attention with a blazing 3km time trial at Princess Park.  Despite concerns about his size, Williams saw potential in Malual and gave him the opportunity to join the club, which Bior credits as the start of his VFL career; “He gave me an opportunity to be a part of this great club”.

Debuting in Round 1, 2019, alongside fellow 2019 signing and future AFL draftee Jake Riccardi, Malual picked up 12 disposals, six marks and kicked a goal on debut, as the wingman put together a standout first year. He finished the rookie season kicking 19 goals and averaging 12 disposals and four marks per game, earning an invitation to the state draft combine, where he recorded the top agility and yo-yo test results. 

Despite AFL interest, Bior returned to Werribee, and in 2023 reached his 50th VFL game in his fifth season with the football club. 

Coming into 2024, with retirements to key senior personnel, Tom Gribble, Matt Hanson and Michael Sodomaco, Bior Malual was Werribee’s second oldest player on the list, behind Nick Hayes, and stood up to start the season delivering back-to-back 24 disposal games, including a best-on-ground outing against Southport in Round 2. 

Malual ended the season averaging 17 disposals and seven marks across 21 games, finishing in the top ten of the club's best-and-fairest for the third time and capping off the year by securing the ultimate prize: a premiership in his 85th career game.

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Small Forwards Back for 2025

A further two premiership players have been locked in for 2025 with small forwards Zac Banch and Flynn Young re-signing for next season.

The two small forwards both entered 2024 with two VFL games to their names but broke into the side after standout performances at the local level to begin the season. Once they earned their spots, they did not look back, with Banch playing 15 games and Young 16, each playing important roles in Werribee’s first premiership in 31 years.

Zac Banch joined Werribee late in the pre-season after spending 2023 with Williamstown, where he played his first two VFL games. Another Ovens and Murray product, one of Werribee’s group of seven from the premiership side, Banch switched local sides to the Western Football Netball League’s Point Cook Centrals for 2024, and after three games named in the best players for the Sharks, he was selected for his Werribee debut in round eight against Collingwood. 

Assistant coach and former Werribee player Kyle Hartigan presented Banch with his guernsey on debut, commending the small forward’s perseverance. "You've done it the hard way, but ever since you’ve come to the footy club, your intensity has been top-notch, your skills too," Hartigan said. "We've been waiting for you to be ready to go all year." Banch responded with an impressive two-goal debut, solidifying his place in the side to play every game for the remainder of the year. 

Banch was one of just four players to earn Werribee’s Totally Workwear Player of the Round on two occasions in 2024, when he kicked three goals against Sydney away in Round 14 and backed it up just two weeks later with a bag of four against Coburg. The small forward also stepped up in the finals series, securing a place among the best players in the Qualifying Final, where his pressure was a standout, and then kicking an early long-range goal in the Grand Final. Reflecting post-game Banch said, "Kicking the second goal was pretty sweet."

Speaking on Banch’s re-signing, Football Manager Ash Collins said “Zac joined us late in the pre-season, but did not miss a beat.” He continued, “We look forward to see the level he can get to with a full pre-season with us under his belt”. 

Flynn Young entered his third season with the club in 2024, having played games in both the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. Like Banch, Young started the year representing his local side, Newtown & Chilwell, however, Young would not stay at that level for long, kicking 21 goals from three full matches to start the GFNL season, which saw him leading the league goalkicking.

As a result, the forward was recalled for Werribee’s Round 6 clash against Carlton, one of six changes after the club suffered back-to-back losses. Young hit the scoreboard with two goals, to go with his six marks and 15 disposals in his return game, a performance which would then see the forward solidify his place in the team, going on to play every match for the remainder of the season.

Playing as a half-forward Young averaged over 13 disposals and five marks per game, and continually bobbed up to kick important goals at crucial times. Young kicked Werribee’s first major on two occasions during the finals series: first with a piece of individual brilliance against the Cats and then with a goal from outside 50 in the Grand Final against Southport. 

After the Grand Final, Young said “Everyone wrote us off, we had some good players leave, we showed a lot of character to stay in it today and to win is just unreal.”

The half-forward continued, “I think the main thing is we trained so hard. Training is always harder than a game and when we get out on game day, we know what we’re doing.” 

Ash Collins expressed his excitement about securing the signatures of both Young and Banch again for 2025, saying, "It's great to have a couple more of our small forward brigade returning for 2025."

The Football Manager added, “Flynn has been with us for a few seasons, and it’s been good to see him truly cement his spot this year. With more confidence in himself, he’s only going to get better next season”.

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