FINAL SCORE:
Werribee: 3.5 5.11 11.16 13.21 (99)
North Melbourne: 0.2 1.4 4.4 4.6 (30) 

GOALS:
Werribee: J. Dahlhaus (3), H. Garoni (3), J. Henderson (2), J. Riding (2), R. Bice, H. Grintell, B. Malual
North Melbourne: S. Lowson (2), B. Drury, D. Stephens

BEST:
Werribee: N. Cooper, J. Henderson, D. Brew, C. Whyte, J. Riding, K. Annand

PHOTO GALLERY – VIEW HERE

Following the bittersweet chapter of our history that was the 2023 season, the story continues and this year we want you back to help us achieve a different ending.

Our board, our coaches, our players and our staff are ready to embark on a new season, united in our mission for the ultimate success. The question remains: Are you with us?

Sign up as a member for 2024 via INTIX here.

Werribee returns to Avalon Airport Oval this Sunday, to take on North Melbourne in a prime-time Channel 7 clash.

The matchup will be Werribee's second match of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round, and their first at home, marking a special celebration. The day will include a Smoking Ceremony, a Welcome to Country, and a pre-game Gift Exchange. 

It will be a special day in more ways than one, as Werribee will also be celebrating their Past Players Day. Werribee’s 2023 VFL Coach of the Year, Michael Barlow will make his first trip back to Avalon Airport Oval with North Melbourne, where he will pre-game make a guest appearance at the President’s Function. Secure your tickets to the function HERE to hear Mick, as well as North Melbourne captain, and WFC player #780, Luke McDonald speak pre-game before sales close at 4 PM on Friday.

Werribee come into the clash in good form, coming off back-to-back wins. Their most recent triumph came in Round 8, coming out on top against Collingwood with a 52-point victory at Victoria Park.

North Melbourne is currently 15th on the ladder ahead of the matchup, following a 51-point defeat to Essendon at Windy Hill on Sunday. Despite this setback, the Roos have been competitive in their recent games, with their two previous losses each being by less than a goal. 

GAME DAY DETAILS
Gates open from 10:30am. 2024 members have free entry. If you are a 2024 member who is yet to receive your membership card, officials will be on hand to assist. Entry for non-members is $10 for adults and concession $5. Kids under 16 are free.

Pre-purchase your tickets to the game via this link. 

MATCH DETAILS – ROUND 9
Werribee vs North Melbourne
Sunday, May 26, 12:00pm
Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee

Round 9 Match Centre.

Watch the match live at afl.com.au

“Boys, we are all getting on and from my experience in football the biggest thing I can pass on to you is that too much emphasis is put on premierships and individual awards. The best thing about the game is the people you meet along the way. Make the most of those relationships, because they are what matters most.” Donald McDonald

These are perhaps the most intelligent words our former coach has ever said! It was part of a speech he made to the Werribee players when Mick Barlow took over as coach and he hit the nail on the head.

Perhaps it’s because we are getting older and starting to sense our own mortality but reunions do become more special as time quickly advances.

This wasn’t the case early on for me. I was a bit reticent thinking no one would remember me or I wouldn’t remember their names but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Once you hear a characteristic laugh or see someone’s familiar face, suddenly the dormant chemicals in your brain kick off again. It’s instant recognition and the ‘man-hugs’ begin.

I think we all forget just how much time we invested at the footy club. We all worked or studied before putting in long hours training. There wasn’t much science to the training. The only philosophy was, ‘train longer and harder and we’ll get better’.

I can’t remember any bad relationships. Maybe there was the odd undesirable who came through the club over the six years I was there, but on the whole Werribee FC was a great place to play and have fun.

So many great characters came through the doors. Werribee is a destination club, especially now with its facilities but in the ‘olden days’ when the club had to compete in the VFA first division, the club had to source players outside of town from 1989-on in order to be competitive. Geographically this could prove to be challenging for some.

The boys from Geelong such as Nick Walsh, Greg Chapman and Stephen Sells weren’t just excellent players but they were often the last to leave the social club. They left a legacy of behaviours that decades of future Geelong players have been happy to replicate!

Other players who drove long distances and fell in love with the club were Robbie Morris, Richard Geary and the ‘Beanbag With Legs’, Frank Lesiputty. You’ll still see Robbie and Richard at reunions having driven from Deniliquin and Yarrawonga respectively.

You never know who you’ll bump into at a PPO day. For instance I had a strange interaction at the 2019 event. We set up at the Hungry Jacks end of AAO and I scored some Furphy cartons from a mate to raffle off.

As the players came in, I feverishly wrote down their names on raffle tickets. I had my head down and asked the next player their name. “Justin Bailey”, came the reply. I stopped in my tracks immediately, looked up and it all came flooding back to me.

“You knocked me out just before half time in the ’93 Grand Final didn’t you?” I asked. “Yep, that’s right.” “Nice to meet you” I said. “Nice to meet you too” he replied. A very VFA exchange! Justin came across to Werribee from Port Melbourne in the mid 90’s.

The 2024 Past Players will be this Sunday at AAO versus North Melbourne. There is a Presidents Luncheon available for $50 at 10am with guest speaker Mick Barlow. From 12pm the PPO function will be on the hill. $10 gets you a stubbie holder and a drink. Whatever happens, you’re guaranteed a gut laugh or two.

Michael McMaster has organised a bus leaving Kardinia Café at 9am. BYO drinks for the trip. A big thanks to Mixer, Adam Taylor and Zach Thornton for setting up the day this year.

Another event to put in your diaries is The Big Freeze Day on Saturday June 8 versus Frankston. The game starts at 2.05pm but there will be fundraising activities for Fight MND beforehand. Keep an eye on the club’s website as more details come to hand.

Neale Daniher played a huge part in his one year at Werribee, helping the club to reach its first ever grand final in 1991. Despite two dodgy knees and being dragged out of retirement, he was an inspirational player on the ground and a gentleman off it.

Past players Michael McMaster and Daryl Fenton along with former coach Leon Harris have been conducting lunches for Neil since he returned from Perth with his diagnosis of MND.

They have been hugely successful and Neale has always been there with that dry sense of humour.

I remember one lunch when Leon Harris proudly announced to us that he came runner up in the VFL’s Best First Year Player award of (I think) 1979. Someone asked who came first.

Leon pointed to Neale, who paused and with the timing of a seasoned comedian said, “Big gap between first and second.”

You can grab your Big Freeze 10^th Anniversary beanie at any Coles or Bunnings and join the fun on the 8^th of June at AAO. Go Tiges!

Following the bittersweet chapter of our history that was the 2023 season, the story continues and this year we want you back to help us achieve a different ending.

Our board, our coaches, our players and our staff are ready to embark on a new season, united in our mission for the ultimate success. The question remains: Are you with us?

Sign up as a member for 2024 via INTIX here.

It was another good weekend for Werribee, with a 52-point win at VFL level, and a number of Werribee players stacking up big performances amongst the 14 that played at local level across six different leagues.
Geelong Football Netball League:

Matthew Keast – St Mary’s
Keast had a huge game in a big win over Lara. He had 40 disposals, at an effective 75%, which included 17 contested possessions. Keast also stuffed the stat sheet with 12 marks, eight clearances, eight inside 50s and a goal.

Gennaro Bove – Newtown & Chilwell
Played a good game up forward in a heartbreaking loss to Bell Park. Bove found 15 disposals, including eight contested possessions, laid six tackles and kicked a goal.

Charlie Byrne – Newtown & Chilwell
Continues his good form for Newtown this season. In the one-point loss to Bell Park, Byrne picked up 26 disposals, going at an extremely effective 85%, which included 18 kicks, and took five marks.

Olivier Northam – St Joseph’s
Continues to impress for St Joseph’s since signing for Werribee for 2024. From the ruck, Northam picked up 21 disposals, with 13 contested and eight clearances. He also won 33 hitouts, went inside 50 five times and laid six tackles to be named in the best in a five-point win over Leopold.

Emmanuel Ajang – Geelong West Giants
Another accumulative game for Ajang for the Giants. He gathered 26 disposals, with ten contested, had five marks, five clearances, six inside-50s, seven tackles and hit the scoreboard with a goal to again be named in the best players.

Essendon District Football League:

Cam McLeod – Aberfeldie
McLeod had his best game of the season to date in a win over Deer Park. He found 20 disposals, where he went at 75% efficiency, took seven marks, including three intercept, and had four inside 50s. 

Raymond Murphy – Greenvale
Murphy had a good start to the game however a leg injury ended his day early. Murphy ended with seven disposals, three marks, two inside 50’s and two tackles in limited gametime, and was setting himself up for a big game. 

Reuben William – Keilor
Putting together a good patch for Keilor, and in a big win over Pascoe Vale William had 16 disposals off half back, went at 75% efficiency, and defended well, with five 1%’ers. 

Victorian Amateur Football Association:

Sam Conway – University Blacks
Staffed the stat sheet in a tight loss to Old Melburnians. While also strong in the ruck, Conway found 16 disposals, with 14 being contested and eight clearances, and laid 10 tackles to end with 141 ranking points. 

Zayne Galea – Williamstown CYMS
Played his best game of the season to help the CY’s to their first win of 2024. Was very good defensively, not losing a 1v1 all match, and didn’t have a problem finding the footy offensively, finding 17 disposals at an effective 76%, and taking four marks.

Ballarat Football Netball League:

Joel Cadman – Darley
Cadman was named in the best for Darley in their tight loss to Sunbury. Werribee’s new recruit found 20 disposals in the forward line, took eight marks included five contested grabs, and was damaging on the scoreboard with two goals.

Jamie Quick – North Ballarat
Was named in the best and had his best game of the season to date. Quick kicked a game-high six goals in a win over Sebastopol. The forward also gathered 18 disposals, with 14 contested, and took three marks.

Bellarine Football Netball League:

Ed McCoy – Torquay Tigers
McCoy dominated in the ruck in the Tigers’ win over Queenscliff. Won 47 hitouts, with seven to advantage, while also winning four clearances. 

Northern Football Netball League:

Darcy Bennett – Banyule
In his second game back from injury Bennett’s Banyule had a four-goal win over Eltham. Bennett split forward and ruck time, playing well in the ruck, while gathering nine disposals, with multiple clearances and inside 50s.

Following the bittersweet chapter of our history that was the 2023 season, the story continues and this year we want you back to help us achieve a different ending.

Our board, our coaches, our players and our staff are ready to embark on a new season, united in our mission for the ultimate success. The question remains: Are you with us?

Sign up as a member for 2024 via INTIX here.