With Werribee’s VFL campaign now underway and the side returning home for the first time on the weekend, the local footy scene also kicked off, with 14 Werribee-listed players running out for their local clubs across eight different leagues on Saturday.

Read the first edition of our 2025 Local Player Report to see how those next in line are tracking after officially hitting the park for their opening games of the season.

Geelong Football Netball League

Liam Kershaw - St. Joseph’s
The new Werribee recruit got his season off to a strong start in the GFL season opener. The youngster was named in the best for the Joeys, and impressed both offensively and defensively on the wing.

Cooper Ward - St. Joseph’s
Kershaw’s teammate and fellow Werribee recruit made a strong start to 2025, contributing to St Joseph’s opening-round win. The 18-year-old forward hit the scoreboard with a goal and was lively around the ball, recording three inside 50s in the victory over Newtown.

Charlie Byrne - Newtown & Chilwell
Lining up against Kershaw and Ward in the only GFL clash of the opening round, Byrne played well despite his side falling short. Splitting his time between the wing and his familiar half-back role, he used the ball efficiently and applied strong defensive pressure to finish with four tackles.

Bellarine Football Netball League

Luke Preece - Drysdale
Named Werribee’s Local Player of the Week, Preece stood out in a nail-biting one-goal loss to Anglesea. The intercepting defender took five marks, with his aerial work a standout. Also named among Drysdale’s best, he registered 11 one-percenters and earned praise for his strong one-on-one efforts throughout the game.

Jack Henderson - Barwon Heads
Jack Henderson got his season off to a flyer as Barwon Heads cruised past Portarlington by nine goals. Looking dangerous all day up forward, the dynamic forward booted four goals and took 10 marks – including four contested – to be named among the best.

Goulburn Valley Football League

Dom Gugliotti - Mooroopna
After falling short in last year’s semi final, Mooroopna couldn’t get over the line in Round 1, falling to Mansfield by 38 points. Gugliotti, however, impressed in his first local game since joining Werribee, earning a spot in the best. The defender found plenty of the ball and used it superbly, going at 88% efficiency in a strong personal start to the season.

Anthony Depasquale – Kyabram
Following an injury-affected pre-season, Depasquale made a strong return, getting through a full game and making an immediate impact. He kicked a goal in the first quarter and set up multiple others before half time, later rotating through half-forward and deep forward to help Kyabram open the season with a win.

Western Football Netball League:

Spencer Johnson - Altona
Johnson returned for his first game since Werribee’s first practice match of the season and managed well as Altona went down to the reigning premiers, Hoppers Crossing. The defender was efficient with the ball, providing dash off half-back and taking six marks in a solid return.

Wil Kliszewski - Yarraville Seddon
The Eagles got their season off to a flying start with an upset win over Caroline Springs, despite a late five-goal surge from the opposition. Kliszewski, a young key forward recently invited to train with Werribee, was named among the best, making his presence felt both in the air and at ground level, finishing with six tackles and several strong contested marks

Tom Stapleton – Parkside
Parkside made a statement in their opening match, notching a nine-goal win over newly promoted Sunshine. Stapleton worked into the game well and ended with four marks in a solid outing.

Northern Football Netball League

Cam Wild - Hurstbridge
Wild found plenty of the footy as Hurstbridge went down in a thrilling encounter in their season opener, losing to Greensborough by three points. Wild, a damaging, inside midfielder, also booted a goal and laid nine tackles.

Victorian Amateur Football Association

Harry Miller - Williamstown CYMS
After escaping relegation last season, Williamstown CY’s opened their season in style with a 53-point win over Hampton Rovers. Miller was a constant threat up forward, finishing with six shots on goal. The small forward also received praise for his pressure and defensive efforts inside 50.

Ballarat Football Netball League

Rye Penny - Bacchus Marsh
Penny made a strong start to the season in Bacchus Marsh’s 53-point win over Lake Wendouree. Playing across half-back, he impressed with his aerial presence and ability to win one-on-ones, finishing with five marks, including several intercepts. After a knee scare early in the second half, Penny pushed forward and capped off his day with a goal.

Essendon District Football League

Cam McLeod - Aberfeldie
McLeod was named among the best in Aberfeldie’s 50-point win to open their 2025 campaign. Playing on the wing, he ran hard all day and contributed strongly with ball in hand.

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.

The honours keep rolling in for Werribee champion Dom Brew, who has today been named captain of the Smithy’s VFL State Team for the second time.

Brew will lead the Big V as the VFL does battle with their counterparts from the South Australian Football League during Gather Round in the Barossa region.

His reappointment follows a remarkable individual year, capped off by a historic premiership win. Among his many accolades in 2024: Werribee life membership, a first VFL State Team captaincy, Smithy’s VFL Team of the Year captaincy, the J.J. Liston Trophy, VFL Coaches MVP, a second straight Bruce Montgomery Trophy, and leading Werribee to its first premiership in 31 years.

Speaking about the chance to lead the state again, Brew said; “It was a bit disappointing with the result last year so I was hoping to get another crack at it this year if it fell my way,” Brew said.

“It’s always good to be recognised like this. (I’m) excited to get a bit of redemption and to actually have the privilege of doing it again is very good.

“Zane (Littlejohn) originally called me when he got the job to coach again. He reached out and asked what we could have done better, which has all been put into action now. It’s a better build up.”

The clash between the VFL and SANFL representative teams will follow the North Melbourne vs Gold Coast Suns AFL match at nearby Barossa Park, providing a footy showcase for the Barossa region.

The VFL will be looking for redemption after going down to the SANFL by 14 points at Glenelg’s Stratarama Stadium last year.

Final teams to represent the rebel VFLW State Team and Smithy’s VFL State Team will be announced later this week.

2025 AAMI State Game – Men’s
Smithy’s VFL State Team vs SANFL’s West End State Team
Saturday, April 12, 2025
2:45pm local / 3:15pm AEST
Tanunda Recreation Park
Broadcast: 7mate in Victoria and 7plus Sport nationally. Live stream at AFL.com.au
Tickets: Adults $15, concession $10. Purchase tickets here

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.

Footscray snatch victory in the final minute at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday.

It was a special day for the club that ended in disappointment. Werribee unfurled the 2024 premiership flag involving key figures from the 1993 and 2024 premierships. Bruce Montgomery, Frank Lesiputty, Jack Henderson, Nick Coughlan joined President Martin Carter and CEO Mark Penaluna for the pre-game ceremony.

But the celebrations were ultimately spoiled in front of a strong home crowd, as Footscray slotted a goal in the 32nd minute of the final term to snatch a four-point win, 11.12 (78) to 11.8 (74).

Ryan Eyers continued his impressive start in Werribee colours, earning Totally Workwear Player of the Match honours for his strong defensive performance. Senior coach Jimmy Allan said post-match: “Ryan was fantastic again against the Bulldogs. In his short time here, he has shown that he can be trusted to just do his job. His primary focus is to beat his opponent and, again on Saturday, he was able to do it more often than not.”

Dom Brew put together another impressive midfield performance, stuffing the stat sheet with 32 disposals, 20 contested possessions and 16 tackles. Up forward, Hudson Garoni extended his goalkicking streak to 26 games, booting three early majors to give Werribee a fast start.

Footscray burst out of the blocks with the first two goals of the game, before Garoni’s strong contested marking and finishing helped steady Werribee. Tylar Watts then converted a set shot after the first-quarter siren to trim the deficit to five points.

Werribee responded with a dominant second quarter, piling on five unanswered goals. Garoni kicked things off with his third, then found Flynn Young inside 50, who made no mistake with a classy snap.

Cooper Whyte was in the right spot as he continually does to snap a goal, before Dom Brew found Jackson Grundy inside 50, with the North Warrnambool product slotting home the set shot to boot his first goal in Werribee colours in his third game for the club.

Noah Tullio was next to hit the scoreboard, taking full advantage of a 50-metre penalty to kick his first goal at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval and push Werribee to a 27-point lead at half-time.

Footscray responded with a dominant third quarter, mirroring Werribee’s second-term effort by kicking five unanswered goals to take a three-point lead into the final term.

The last quarter was a tense, goal-for-goal battle, with both sides threatening to take home the HealthWest Cup.

Footscray struck first to push the margin into double digits, before first-year forward Brady Wright clunked a strong one-handed mark and calmly slotted the set shot to bring the margin back to four points.

After a ten-minute arm wrestle, Jake Lohmann read the ball off the pack superbly to snap truly and give Werribee the lead for the first time in the final term.

Bulldogs captain Dan Orgill snapped a goal from a near-impossible angle to reclaim the lead, before winger Myles McCluggage bobbed up with an intercept mark inside 50 and calmly slotted the set shot - his first VFL goal - to put Werribee back in front at the 29-minute mark.

But it wasn’t to be as Footscray found a stoppage goal in the 32nd minute to snatch a dramatic four-point win and spoil Werribee’s premiership flag celebration in a thrilling finish at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval.

ROUND 3 PHOTO GALLERY - CLICK HERE

FINAL SCORE:
Werribee: 3.1 8.4 8.6 11.8 (74)
Footscray: 3.6 3.7 8.9 11.12 (78)

GOAL SCORERS:
Werribee: H. Garoni (3), J. Grundy, J. Lohmann, M. McCluggage, N. Tullio, T. Watts, C. Whyte, B. Wright, F. Young
Footscray: W. Lewis (3), J. Kellett (2), J. Croft, C. Hargraves, C. Hynes, L. Muratore, D. Orgill, A. Scott

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.