Werribee has secured two key players from its premiership-winning forward line, with Jay Dahlhaus and Jack Riding both re-signing for the 2025 season.

Dahlhaus and Riding both enjoyed career-best VFL campaigns by featuring in 19 and 20 games, respectively—a significant increase from their combined five appearances in the 2023 season.

Jay Dahlhaus overcame injury and concussion setbacks that limited him to just one game for Werribee in 2023 while also playing five matches for his local side, Sebastopol. He made an immediate impact in Round 1 this year, kicking two goals and collecting a career-high 19 disposals. Establishing himself as a mainstay in the forward line, Dahlhaus maintained consistent form with only one goalless game until a shoulder injury sidelined him in Round 14,  including a run of 11 goals from rounds six to nine as Werribee started their undefeated run of 11 games. 

The small forward returned with a four goal haul against the Northern Bullants, and played a key role for the remainder of the season alongside small forwards Zac Banch and Flynn Young, including being named in the best with two second half goals in the Grand Final. Reflecting on that comeback victory, Dahlhaus said; “we rallied together at half time and we really put the pressure on in that third quarter and used our speed and got out the back and we ended up getting on the end of a few goals”. 

Dahlhaus ended the season with 33 goals, almost doubling his previous best tally from 2022, and averaged four marks and three tackles amongst his 11 disposals a game. 

Jack Riding made a huge leap in his second season, increasing his game tally from four last year to 20 and earning Werribee's Most Improved Player award.

Recruited to Werribee after winning North Ballarat’s best-and-fairest in 2022, Riding debuted midway through the 2023 season, where he earned four games in his debut campaign, but after a strong pre-season was picked across half-back for the Round 1 clash this season against Geelong.

After a 12 disposal game against Richmond, Riding was dropped for round four’s Giants clash, but after a Cooper Whyte late withdrawal through injury Riding was put back into the side 24 hours later, and as coach Jimmy Allan later explained, “He was actually filthy. Even when I told him he was in again, he was still filthy. He’s so competitive and he was still angry we left him out in the first place.”

He returned in the forward line, and after standout performances in rounds five (17 disposals and two goals) and six (34 disposals, ten marks and four goal assists) Riding cemented his spot across half-forward. leading the VFL in both goal- and score-assists at the midpoint of the season.

Against Port Melbourne in Round 18, Riding who had kicked three goals to three quarter time then injured his shoulder which saw him miss until Box Hill in Round 21, but returned to play a pivotal role in Werribee’s premiership winning finals run, notably kicking Werribee’s only second quarter goal to cut the margin to 13 points right before half-time. 

Alongside the club’s most improved award, Riding finished in the top ten of the club best-and-fairest and was selected in the VFL Team of the Year 40 man squad after he averaged 19 disposals and five marks per game, and ranked top ten in the competition for goal assists, score assists and score involvements during his breakout year.

After two seasons as Werribee's high-performance manager, Gaetano Faranda will depart to continue his footballing journey interstate, taking up a new role with West Perth Football Club in the WAFL.

As announced on Saturday by West Perth Football Club, Faranda joins the Falcons as their Head of Strength and Conditioning for the 2025 season.

Faranda has six years of experience in the VFL system, previously spending time as the High-Performance Manager at Williamstown and the Head of Strength and Power at Box Hill.

Since arriving at Werribee ahead of the 2023 season, Faranda has led the club's high-performance team, which played a key role in the side reaching the Grand Final in 2023 and securing the premiership in 2024. Over his two seasons with Werribee, the club used just 36 players each year—the second fewest in the competition—down from 41 in 2022.

Reflecting on his time at the club, Faranda expressed his love and gratitude; “I will be forever grateful to the Werribee Football Club—the friendships I've made and the lessons I've learned over the past two years are invaluable, and this club has made me fall in love with footy again.”

As a Werribee local, the decision to leave his hometown club wasn’t easy for Faranda; “Being a local boy, it was a hard decision to leave Werribee, especially after the premiership. The players and staff make it such an enjoyable place to be.”

“However, after conversations with my partner, those close to me, and others in the industry, I knew it was time to make the leap, as full-time work in football is hard to find in such a competitive field."

Faranda's expertise was further recognised earlier this year when he was appointed high-performance manager of Smithy’s VFL representative team, when the ‘Big V’ returned to take on the SANFL during the AFL’s Gather Round. 

Upon this appointment, football manager Ash Collins Football manager Ash Collins praised Faranda’s work ethic and impact; “It's a testament to the dedication and hard work that GT has put in, and it's a great reflection of the positive direction our club is heading in.”

The Werribee Football Club is deeply saddened to advise of the passing of Robert Allan, father of senior coach, Jimmy Allan.

Robert battled illness for an extended period but was able to witness the proud moment of his son, Jimmy, lifting the premiership cup in his final weeks.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Jimmy, Kelly, the Allan family, and all of Robert’s friends during this difficult time.

A Service to Celebrate the Life of Robert Allan will be held at Tuckers Chapel, Highton, on Thursday, 10th October, at 10:00am.