Werribee’s good form continued with a fourth win in a row this time over the Gold Coast Suns. 

Meeting for the first time since the 2023 Grand Final Werribee emerged victorious with a 17-point margin defeating the Suns 13.12.90 to 11.7.73.

It was a sweet victory for Werribee first year coach Jimmy Allan and boosted his side up to third on the ladder. 

The Suns started the game strongly, booting the first two goals in quick succession. For the second consecutive week Jack Henderson ignited Werribee's attack kicking the team's first two majors. Jay Dahlhaus maintained his goal-kicking form with a trademark snap in the first quarter, and Louis Pinnuck again snuck forward to add another long-range goal to narrow the margin to just three points by quarter time. This was Pinnuck’s third goal of the season, a feat he has not managed since 2019. 

Gold Coast began the second quarter in a similar fashion kicking the first two majors opening up an 18-point lead. However a strong fightback saw Werribee kick four goals in a row and take a seven point lead into the main break. Flynn Young and Hudson Garoni both kicked goals to begin this run. Garoni was able to maintain his record of scoring in every game this season.

The third quarter was a tight, goal-for-goal tussle, with both sides managing only two goals. Hudson Garoni kicked his second of the quarter and 18th of the season, elevating him into the top five in VFL goalkicking. An Aidan Johnson goal from the ruck just before three-quarter time provided Werribee with a bit of breathing room, giving them a nine-point lead at the final break.

Gold Coast kicked the first goal of the final quarter, with Sam Day’s third of the day reducing the lead to four points. After a 10-minute goalless stretch Cooper Whyte capped off a great afternoon with his first goal in Werribee colors—a classy snap from the pocket. Werribee then dominated the remainder of the quarter.

Jack Henderson’s 25 disposals, nine clearances, and seven marks earned him the Round 10 Totally Workwear Player of the Round. Nick Hayes sealed the victory with a big contested mark on the goal line, converting Werribee’s third consecutive goal to secure a 17-point win. 

Louis Pinnuck continued his good form with a team-high 28 disposals and 14 marks. Fellow defenders Riley Bice and Jesse Clark also had fantastic afternoons. Bice offering run and carry all day and picking up 23 disposals and seven marks while Clark had ten marks picking up 17 disposals.

After more than three decades as a partner with the club Chris Kopelke was last weekend awarded Werribee Life Membership.

Chris was presented with his life membership by former player, treasurer and life member David Lyons in the pre-game function. The North Melbourne clash was a special day for the club celebrating Past Players and Officials with former players Michael Barlow and Luke McDonald speaking at the President’s brunch and the life membership ceremony.

Chris Kopelke, known affectionately as 'Chopper', first became involved with the Werribee Football Club through his business Kwik Kopy which has been a corporate sponsor since it opened its doors in 1992.

In addition to Kwik Kopy, Kopelke showed his support through two other businesses he managed- The Bridge Hotel and Caffe Aroma. These efforts underline his significant influence in securing financial stability for the club over the years.

And it isn’t only as a sponsor that Chris has been a part of Werribee he also served on the board of directors from 2010-2014.

Werribee CEO Mark Penaluna highlighted Chris’ exceptional contributions and dedication to the club which earned him the honor of life membership:

Werribee will make the trip north for the second time this season, with a Grand Final rematch awaiting on Sunday.

Taking on the Suns at People First Stadium the VFL clash, with the first bounce at 12:15pm, will be a curtain raiser for the Suns  AFL side playing the Bombers.

It will be the first matchup between Werribee and Gold Coast since the blockbuster 2023 Grand Final which the Suns won by 19 points to win the club’s first ever premiership. 

Werribee have a three-game winning streak and sit in the top four of the ladder. The most recent victory was a 69-point defeat over North Melbourne at Avalon Airport Oval last Sunday, an extra special win as the club celebrated Past Players Day and Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

Gold Coast are 11th on the ladder but are coming off a 50-point smashing of Carlton.

Four home matches, and trips to Sydney and Box Hill await Werribee in the final stretch of the season, made up of both Saturday and Sunday time slots.

A Sunday clash in Sydney, at Tramway Oval is the first of the newly confirmed batch of fixtures, which will be followed by three home matches in a row, against Footscray, Coburg and the Northern Bullants.

Werribee round out the month of July with a trip to ETU Stadium to take on standalone rivals Port Melbourne, before returning back to Avalon Airport Oval on August 2nd to face Southport for the second time of the season, after a three-point thriller with the Sharks in Round 2. 

Werribee and the Hawks will round out the home and away season for the VFL, with a 2:05pm afternoon clash at Box Hill City Oval on August 18th.  

For the postseason, the Wildcard Round has been retained for the 2024 season and will be played over the weekend of August 24-25. It will reinstate the same format as 2023, featuring two matches – 7 v 10 and 8 v 9 – with the two winners advancing to the VFL Finals Series. The top-six teams on the ladder will have a pre-finals bye. The highest-ranked winner from the Wildcard Round will enter the finals as the seventh-placed team.

The VFL Finals Series begins on the weekend of September 2-3 with the 2023 VFL Grand Final scheduled to be played on Sunday, September 24, the weekend before the AFL Grand Final.

Full 2023 Smithy's VFL Fixture available HERE.