As the VFL season nears its conclusion, local competitions are also heading towards the pointy end, and our Werribee-listed players have been delivering strong performances across their respective leagues as many of them gear up for finals.

Read how 15 Werribee boys fared in the 19th edition of the 2025 Weekly Player Report.

Bellarine Football Netball League:

Luke Preece - Drysdale
The defender starred in Drysdale’s 131-point win over Portarlington, amassing 26 disposals and hauling in 13 marks, which included a massive seven contested and ten intercept. His intercept marking was a standout and he regularly broke lines to set up attacking chains.

Ovens & Murray Football Netball League:

Archer Gardiner - North Albury
Gardiner was influential in North Albury’s 50-point win over Yarrawonga, splitting his time between the wing and midfield. He finished with 23 disposals at an incredible 96% efficiency, seven clearances, eight contested possessions and a goal, using the ball well and having a strong impact.

Jedd Longmire - Corowa Rutherglen
Longmire was among Corowa Rutherglen’s best in the 38-point loss to Wangaratta Rovers, gathering 23 disposals at 83% efficiency, including 10 contested possessions and seven clearances. Strong around the contest and composed under pressure, he linked up well with defenders to transition the ball from the back half.

Ray Murphy - Corowa Rutherglen
Murphy battled through an ankle injury sustained early in the match, finishing with 10 disposals. While clearly hindered in his movement, he still produced some good moments before sitting out the final quarter.

Northern Football Netball League:

Cam Wild - Hurstbridge
Wild was one of Hurstbridge’s best as they had another close game, this time coming out on top defeating Bundoora by seven points. He stuffed the stat sheet with 25 disposals at 80% efficiency, eight marks, a goal and five inside 50s, influencing both inside and outside the contest.

Geelong Football Netball League:

Josh Sanders - Lara
Earning a spot in his side’s best once again, Sanders delivered a strong individual performance in Lara’s heavy defeat to Leopold. He finished with 27 disposals (18 kicks, nine handballs), six marks and eight rebound 50s, using the ball well under pressure and providing plenty of drive from the back half.

Tylar Watts - Leopold
Watts was among Leopold’s best in their big win over Lara, dominating the ruck with 30 hitouts, and collecting 15 disposals, nine contested possessions and five tackles. He covered the ground well, competed strongly in marking contests and provided a solid target when required.

Ben Kellett - South Barwon
In a dominant 132-point win over North Shore, the big man did it all, finishing with 18 disposals, five marks, two majors and 39 hitouts. Starting forward, he had the first three shots of the game and was much better this week in his attack on the ball.

Essendon District Football League:

Hayden Gill - Deer Park
Off the back of a five-goal haul last week, Gill was again among the goals with two majors in Deer Park’s 59-point win over Pascoe Vale. Playing as a high forward, he collected 16 disposals, 13 contested possessions and eight marks, six of which were contested, while also taking ruck duties at forward stoppages.

Reuben Rode - Greenvale
Rode started brightly with 12 disposals at 92% efficiency and seven contested possessions before a hamstring injury ended his day in the first quarter of Greenvale’s loss to Keilor.

Western Football Netball League:

Harry Maguire - Hoppers Crossing
Maguire was one of the Hoppers’ shining lights in a tough day, falling out of the top three with a 22-point loss to Spotswood. He finished with 14 disposals, eight marks and a goal, with the key forward at his most dangerous once the ball hit the ground. He had multiple scoring opportunities, ending with 1.3 and four other shots on goal.

Ballarat Football Netball League:

Rye Penny - Bacchus Marsh
Penny began strongly in Bacchus Marsh’s 37-point loss to Ballarat, using the ball well and providing drive from defence before a groin strain impacted his output. He finished with 10 disposals at 80% efficiency and two marks, and was managed through the second half before being called off late.

Isaac Nixon - Bacchus Marsh
Nixon was a key target up forward, finishing two goals from his nine possessions in the loss to Ballarat. He used his speed and agility to get involved and hit the scoreboard to keep up his strong goal-kicking form in this second half of the season.

Hampden Football Netball League:

Myles McCluggage - South Warrnambool
After a run of 16 straight VFL games, McCluggage returned to South Warrnambool for the first time this season as their goal-kicking cost them in a draw with Camperdown. He was at his best back with the Roosters, finishing with 31 disposals (18 kicks), eight clearances, six marks and a goal, and earning a spot in the best players in the draw.

Victorian Amateur Football Association:

Sam Allen - Old Ivanhoe
Allen was in top form before injury struck in Old Ivanhoe’s 79-point win over Fitzroy, kicking two goals to go with 19 disposals and 10 marks. Unfortunately, scans revealed an ACL tear, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.

Werribee put in a commendable showing against Southport on Saturday, but the Sharks proved too strong, claiming a 13-point victory.

In Werribee’s final home game of the season, a five-goal-to-none third quarter from the visitors proved decisive, with Southport securing a 12.8.80 to 9.13.67 win to stay third on the ladder with one round remaining.

Jack Riding continued his strong run of form, following back-to-back 30-disposal games, with an impressive 27 touches and six tackles through the midfield.

Mace Cousins backed up his Player of the Match performance in Round 18 against Richmond with another strong defensive display, while Jaelen Pavlidis impressed in his first game back from concussion since his 50th against Casey.

Jay Dahlhaus was lively up forward with three goals, Dom Brew filled the stats sheet with 23 disposals, 13 tackles and nine clearances, and Bior Malual was influential in his 100th game.

Cooper Whyte set the tone early, winning a free kick for a strong tackle inside 50 and converting for the opening goal of the day. Southport replied with two quick majors, but three consecutive goals, one to Wil Kliszewski and a pair to Dahlhaus, gave Werribee a two-goal lead at quarter time.

Southport came out firing in the second term with five unanswered goals, before Werribee fought back late to reduce the margin to just three points at the main break. Hudson Garoni then marked a snap from debutant Hugo Mikunda in the goal square and converted to extend his remarkable streak to 38 consecutive games with a goal. Moments before half-time, Dahlhaus broke inside 50 and slotted his third of the match.

The third quarter belonged to Southport, who capitalised on Werribee’s missed chances to kick five straight goals and take a 33-point buffer into the final change.

Brady Wright gave Werribee the perfect start to the last quarter with a goal inside the first minute, and Jake Smith followed up with one on the run. Harry Miller then nailed a tough set shot from the boundary to bring the margin back to 15 points midway through the term, but four missed opportunities proved costly as Southport held on for a 13-point win in Werribee’s penultimate game of the 2025 season.

Werribee’s final outing for the year comes this Saturday, August 16, with a trip to Preston to face the Northern Bullants in Round 21.

ROUND 20 PHOTO GALLERY - Click here

FINAL SCORES:
Werribee: 4.1 6.5 6.8 9.13 (67)
Southport: 2.1 7.2 12.5 12.8 (80)

GOAL SCORERS:
Werribee: J. Dahlhaus (3), H. Garoni, W. Kliszewski, H. Miller, J. Smith, C. Whyte, B. Wright
Southport: W. Buzza (2), Z. Foot (2), J. Gore (2), R. Bowan, J. Kennedy, M. Khoo, C. Lake, M. Pescud, B. Woodcock

BEST PLAYERS:
Werribee: Jack Riding, Mace Cousins, Jaelen Pavlidis, Jay Dahlhaus, Dominic Brew, Bior Malual
Southport: Zac Foot, Jacob Dawson, Michael Manteit, Wylie Buzza, Nick Williams, Max Spencer

While Werribee action at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval may have wrapped up for 2025 on Saturday, there is still plenty of football for local fans to enjoy, with the Western Football Netball League announcing on Friday that our home ground will host their finals series.

Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval has once again been secured and will host all four weeks of the TIV Division 1 Men’s (seniors and reserves) and Under 18 Division 1 finals, beginning Saturday, August 30.

It will be the first time since 2022 that we have hosted the entire Division 1 finals series. Last year, the ground staged the Grand Final, where Hoppers Crossing and Werribee Districts produced a stunning one-point thriller in front of thousands of fans. Holding on after a last-minute flurry from the Districts, the Warriors completed a remarkable turnaround in the space of 12 months going from wooden spooners in 2023 to premiership winners from fifth place.

The triple-header of Division 1 Grand Finals will take place on Saturday, September 20.

Before then, Werribee’s VFL side has one final hit-out for the season, travelling to Preston this Saturday, August 16, to face the Northern Bullants in Round 21.

North Melbourne Werribee will go in unchanged against Collingwood in a blockbuster qualifying final at Arden St Oval on Saturday.

The reigning premiers have kept faith in the side that defeated Sandringham by 17 points in their closing home-and-away match last weekend.

The Roos finished eight points clear on the ladder to claim their first minor premiership.

Saturday's game against the second-placed Pies shapes as a fierce contest, with Collingwood having won the sides' only meeting this season, by 13 points in Round 6.

Captain Renee Tierney will again lead out the Kangaroos, backed by stars including Maddie Di Cosmo, Alana Barba and Nyakoat Dojiok.

The opening bounce at Arden St will be at 2.35pm AEST.