Werribee made it nine wins in a row after defeating Coburg at home on Saturday.

At Avalon Airport, in the second of three consecutive home games, an eleven goal to three second half meant Werribee ran away 79-point victors 19.16.130 to 7.9.51. 

The day was made more special as the club celebrated star defender Louis Pinnuck’s 100th game. Pinnuck ran through a banner with a helping hand from coach Jimmy Allan’s son, Teddy (pictured below), and was chaired off by his teammates Dom Brew and Jack Henderson who share 100-game milestones in 2024. Pinnuck went about his work as per usual and tallied seven marks bringing him to third in the league for 2024 plus 16 disposals.

Coburg got off to a fast start booting the first goal in the opening three minutes, but Kobe Annand courtesy of a 50-metre penalty got Werribee on the board. Dom Brew, in typical Dom Brew fashion, won a holding the ball free kick to boot his second goal of the season. The game  was a back-and-forth contest until late in the quarter when Angus Hicks snapped a goal, followed by a set shot from Hudson Garoni, giving Werribee a 14-point lead at the first break. 

Riley Bice had a big first quarter gathering 10 disposals and six marks off half-back, while Dom Brew found seven disposals, four clearances and laid four tackles. 

In similar fashion to the first term Coburg kicked the opening goal of the quarter to narrow Werribee’s lead to nine points. Neither side was able to hit the scoreboard for the next 12 minutes, until Hudson Garoni stood up with a contested mark inside 50 to kick his second goal of the game and kickstart a run of three goals to close out the half. Dom Brew laid another tackle inside 50 for a second holding the ball free kick, and converted his second goal of the match. Zac Banch also found the goals crafting a stoppage goal from nothing to give Werribee a 28-point lead at half-time.

At the main break, Bice had 18 disposals and an impressive ten marks. Harry Grintell was also having a strong game on the wing gathering 14 disposals.

After letting multiple opportunities go begging in the first half, Aidan Johnson opened the second half with a big contested mark and two set shot goals within the first two minutes. Zac Banch followed with his second goal, capitalising on immense forward pressure. Hudson Garoni then kicked back-to-back goals, bringing his tally to four for the day and moving him back up to third in the Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal count.

To close out the term Jack Henderson in game 99 snapped truly from the boundary to kick a goal with his 18th disposal. This capped off a six-goal-to-none quarter, extending Werribee's lead to 68 points by three-quarter time. 

Coburg started the last quarter with the first two goals, however consecutive majors from Michael Selsby stemmed the flow. Selsby a late inclusion for Nick Hayes has been in great form with Yarraville Seddon Eagles in the Western Football Netball League averaging 27 disposals, eight clearances, four tackles and a goal per game over the last month. The small forward in his first VFL game of 2024 ended the afternoon with nine disposals and two goals.

Zac Banch notched his third goal of the day before Jack Riding closed out the game with a set shot goal and goal assist in the space of three minutes. Riding’s handball to Banch gave the first-year small forward his fourth of the day on the final siren. 

His four-goal effort earnt Banch the Totally Workwear Player of the Round. To go with his career-high four majors he gathered 17 disposals, 11 score involvements and another two score assists. 

Riley Bice ended the afternoon with a team-high 29 disposals to go with 14 marks and nine intercept possessions off half-back.  

Harry Grintell had his best game since moving to the wing, picking up 20 disposals, six inside 50s and five tackles. While the usual contributors in the midfield Dom Brew and Jack Henderson led the way with 27 and 25 disposals respectively and each hitting the scoreboard.

Werribee is home for the second consecutive week this week hosting the Coburg Lions. 

This Saturday’s clash is particularly special as it marks the annual Member and Volunteer Appreciation Game providing the club an opportunity to celebrate the ongoing support of two of its most vital bodies.

Werribee come into the clash after overcoming Footscray in a top-of-the-table clash eventually running out  23-point victors. 

Coburg sits 18th on the ladder but are a much improved side this season already securing three more wins than last year. After a bye in Round 15 Coburg comes into this game well-rested from a 14-day break. Their most recent outing resulting in a 48-point loss to second-placed Brisbane away from home.

It will be the first time the two standalone clubs have faced off since Round 11 last season, where Werribee ran out as 10 goal winners at Coburg’s Piranha Park.

An added reason for members and supporters to be at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday is to help star defender Louis Pinnuck celebrate his 100th game. The milestone has been a long time coming with the defender playing in his eighth season for the club, debuting in 2017. The popular Pinnuck is playing career best football and sits second in the competition for marks and earlier this season was selected to represent the VFL against the SANFL.