Werribee kicked off their 2025 Smithy’s VFL season preparations with a hitout against Frankston on Friday night.

Taking on the Dolphins under the Friday night lights at Belvedere Reserve, Werribee rotated a mix of youth and experience with 35 players hitting the deck across the two halves.

Frankston started strongly with the opening two goals, but Harry Maguire responded with a contested mark and set-shot conversion to register Werribee’s first unofficial goal of 2025.

Werribee’s key forwards looked dangerous in the second term, with 2024 leading goalkicker Hudson Garoni picking up where he left off, slotting two goals for the quarter. Maguire added his second as Werribee took a four point lead into the main break.

Bior Malual was classy as always through the first half, while new recruit Ryan Eyers, arriving from Geelong, stood tall in defence. Cooper Whyte was lively around the contest.

With significant rotations in the second half, several younger players got their chance, including Western Jets recruit Isaac Nixon, who snapped a classy goal to kick off the third quarter.

In the final term, Jedd Longmire put Werribee in front with a stoppage goal, smartly set up by Eyers' ruck tap. Frankston wrestled back the lead and held on in the dying stages to claim an eight-point win.

FINAL SCORE:
Werribee: 1.3 4.5 5.6 6.7 (43)
Frankston: 2.1 4.1 6.3 8.3 (51)

GOALS:
H. Garoni (2), H. Maguire (2), J. Longmire, I. Nixon

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 Werribee Football Club is excited to welcome another proud City of Wyndham organisation to partner up with the club, with Kieser Werribee signing on as a principal sponsor for the 2025 season.

Kieser is located in the heart of Werribee and is a physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and strength training facility focused on functional improvement for individuals of all ages and conditions.

Their Werribee clinic offers a clean, bright, and uncluttered environment—free from music, mirrors, and distractions—allowing clients to concentrate fully on their strength training and recovery, and with a team of expert physiotherapists and exercise scientists, Kieser provides personalised programs to help manage pain, enhance strength, and improve overall well-being.

Their support will play a crucial role in assisting the football club's talent academies and developing the next generation of local footballers across the City of Wyndham.

Highlighting the importance of the partnership, Alex Blizzard, Physiotherapist & Regional Partnerships Leader of Kieser Werribee, said, "Kieser are really proud to come on board as an official WFC partner and support the growth of the WFC Talent Academy.”

He added, “We strongly align with the Club mantra of Community Driven Care, & look forward to playing our part in building a stronger Werribee community."

Werribee Football Club General Manager of Business Operations, Justin Abrams, echoed Blizzard’s excitement: "The Werribee Football Club is delighted to announce Kieser as a Principal partner for 2025 and 2026. Kieser will play a pivotal role in assisting the WFC grow local talent within the region through our Academy programs.”

Abrams concluded with, “With a strong community focus, the alignment with the Werribee Football Club is an exciting partnership."

To learn more about Kieser Werribee, visit their website 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.

Werribee will contest its first practice match of the preseason this Friday night with the team set to take on Frankston on neutral territory.

In what marks the team's first opportunity to impress senior coach Jimmy Allan fresh off its premiership victory in 2024, a mix of youth and experience will hit the deck, with north of thirty players being named to take part in the hit-out.

The match will take place under the lights at Belvedere Reserve in Seaford. First bounce will be at 7:30PM and marks the first of four practice matches leading up to the opening round of the 2025 Smithy's VFL season.

Jimmy Allan spoke of the excitement ahead of the squad hitting the playing field for the first time for 2025; “It’s always exciting when games roll around. The players can’t wait to get there and play against opponents in different jumpers and with 30 new players on our list, it’s a great opportunity for them to show everyone what they can do.”

PRACTICE MATCH 1
Werribee vs Frankston
Friday February 21, 7:30pm
Belvedere Reserve, Seaford

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.

Reigning Norm Goss Medallist Werribee’s Jack Henderson has realised his AFL dream, joining Melbourne Football Club through the AFL’s Supplemental Selection Period (SSP).

Henderson had been training in Western Australia with West Coast but officially signed with the Demons on Tuesday in a pre-season SSP twist.

Melbourne recruited the 25-year-old midfielder after a list spot opened due to forward Shane McAdam’s season-ending achilles injury.

His signing continues Werribee’s strong draft record, enhancing the club’s reputation as a standout development program. Henderson’s recruitment along with Riley Bice (Swans) and Aidan Johnson (Melbourne) makes 2024 the most successful VFL off-season for any standalone club since 2018.

Henderson also extends the Werribee-Melbourne connection, linking up with 2024 premiership teammate Aidan Johnson and former Werribee coach Mark ‘Choco’ Williams, now Melbourne’s Head of Development.

Henderson played all 21 games in 2024, marking the fifth time he has completed a full VFL season in his seven-year career. In a year filled with accolades he earned a second VFL Team of the Year selection, represented the VFL in the state clash against the SANFL and was awarded Werribee Football Club Life Membership after reaching the 100-game milestone.

Henderson signed with Werribee in 2018 from the Geelong Falcons and quickly caught the attention of coach John Lamont, who praised the young gun in pre-season: "He’s a good kick, has good speed, and finished in the [Falcons] top 10 in the best and fairest in a premiership year, so we think he can have a positive impact in 2018.”

In his first season Henderson certainly made an impact, playing all 18 games as a lockdown defender and earning Werribee’s Best First-Year Player award while taking on AFL talents like Gryan Miers and Shai Bolton.

Speaking on radio following Henderson’s invitation to train with Melbourne last week, Werribee’s senior coach Jimmy Allan praised the midfielder’s approach; “With Hendo it wasn’t a matter of I need to go out and put on a show to get drafted. He just did what he did every week and did whatever we asked of him,” he said. “I think that’s what AFL clubs are looking for. They’re looking for guys who can play roles and fit into different systems. Jack will do that whether he gets an opportunity to play in the midfield, forward or down back.”

Werribee CEO Mark Penaluna echoed Allan's praise for Henderson; "From our point of view, we’re in unison about the quality of the person he is, the humble manner in which he goes about things, and his work ethic—he's an incredible, selfless person on and off the field.

He added, "We couldn’t be prouder. We’ve believed in him for a few years, and it’s great to see the recognition he and the Werribee Football Club deserve."

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.