Although The Big W had the week off, a number of players plied their trade and produced strong showings at local level.

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Akol Deng - Yarraville Seddon
With 40-hitouts, 15 disposals and four tackles Deng was one of the best for Yarraville as they went down to a strong Caroline Springs outfit. Had a strong, aggressive presence during the game.

Michael Selsby - Yarraville Seddon (Local Player of the Week)
Best on ground for the Eagles, kicking five goals while playing primarily through the midfield. Worked hard back the other way too, finishing the day with four tackles in the 63-point loss to the Lakers.

Brandon Lester - Yarraville Seddon
In his returning from injury settled into the game well off half-back and got through the match without any issues. A solid first game back.

Sam Clifford - Hoppers Crossing
Used the ball well across his 19 disposals, which included seven marks and six rebound 50s, as the Warriors ran out 70-point winners over Spotswood.

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Noah Gribble - Geelong West
A foot injury late in the match soured an excellent performance in a 99-point triumph over St Albans. Collected 25 disposals and used it really well going at 88 percent efficiency.

Keegan Gray - Bell Park
Lifted late in the game to help his side over the line for a 21-point win versus Lara. Had 26 disposals and 10 marks and stood out with great leadership and poise in the decisive moments.

Flynn Young – Newtown & Chilwell
Limited by a sore back in his side’s Round 3 clash with South Barwon but created some chances around goal in a three-point win.

Charlie Byrne - Newtown & Chilwell
Improved on his last outing for the Eagles after missing last week. Accumulated 22 disposals at 82 percent efficiency with 13 marks. His damaging run was important in the victory over the Swans.

Matt Keast - St Mary’s
Was effective in a 16-disposal outing despite being hampered by a cork. Also had four inside 50s and three tackles in his side’s 34-point win against Leopold.

ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Cam McCleod - Avondale Heights
Off the back of a four-day break kicked three first half goals before ending the day with 15 disposals and six marks in a 44-point defeat to Doutta Stars. Was named second best for Heights.

Lachlan Smart - Deer Park
Another strong performance this week with 18 disposals, six inside 50s and three goals in a three-point loss to West Coburg.

VICTORIAN AMATUER FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Jack Boyd - Old Xavierians
Spent half the game forward and the other half in the ruck in a strong 66-point away win over Caulfield Grammarians. Played with good energy and was one of three Xavs players to kick three goals. Tallied 19 disposals and 12 hit-outs.

Zayne Galea - Williamstown CYMS
Continues to build in his return from injury collecting 17 disposals, seven marks and four tackles in a five-goal loss to St Bedes / Mentone.

BALLARAT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Jesse Clark – Sebastopol
Played well, was rarely beaten one-on-one and barely wasted a disposal going forward in a tight loss to Melton. Had 23 disposals including eight intercept possessions and organised the side well in his first outing for the Vikings.

By Gerald Lynch

Werribee returns from a second bye in the early part of the season and travels to Essendon’s NEC Hangar on Sunday for a Round 7 matchup against the Bombers.

Having improved to 2-2 on the season with a big win over rivals Williamstown in Round 5, Werribee will look to separate themselves from the Bombers who sit one position below them on the ladder.

Essendon also returns from a week off and enter the clash having lost their past two with their most recent performances a narrow defeat to Collingwood after being outplayed by Casey in Round 4.

TEAM NEWS

The Big W has been forced to make two changes for this week's match against the Bombers with injuries sidelining smalls Lucas Rocci and Harry Grintell.

The pair have been replaced by Michael Selsby and Keegan Gray who both come in after some strong form at local level. Selsby will play his third game of the campaign while Gray will make his season debut.

ROUND 7
Werribee vs Essendon
Sunday 7th May, 2:05pm
NEC Hangar, Melbourne Airport

Round 7 Match Centre

Watch live at afl.com.au

With games spread across the Anzac Day weekend Werribee players took to the field over several days in four different leagues in the second full week of metropolitan football. 

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Michael Selsby - Yarraville Seddon
Produced another strong display for the Eagles finishing as their best in a 32-point loss to Point Cook. Played the majority of the match in the midfield accumulating 33 disposals, 18 of those contested to go with four tackles. Generally used the ball well and brought great pressure around the ball.

Akol Deng - Yarraville Seddon
Went up against to quality ruckman against the Bulldogs and did well with 12 of his hit-outs to advantage. Around the ground finished with 11 disposals and was named as one of the best.

Sam Clifford - Hoppers Crossing
Found a good amount of football for the second week in a row and generally used it well in a 79-point defeat to Werribee Districts on Anzac Day. Can be even more effective when he brings his trademark run and carry.

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Matt Keast – St Mary’s
Was a key contributor in his first game for the Saints this season. Tallied 29 disposals, 14 of those contested and five tackles in a strong St Mary’s side that defeated Geelong West by 52 points. Kicked a goal but could have easily finished with multiple majors.

Noah Gribble - Geelong West
One of the leading disposals getters for the Giants with 27 touches in their loss to St Mary’s. Battled hard across four quarters starting as an inside midfielder before moving to the wing and then halfback.

Keegan Gray - Bell Park (Local Player of the Week)
Played all over the ground in an 80-point win over North Shore. Was dominant early with rebound before swinging forward in the last quarter, kicking a goal and missing a couple of other chances. Had 20 disposals at 85% efficiency along with nine marks.

Sam Witherden - North Shore
Solid again as the Seagulls were no match for Bell Park. Started at fullback but moved into the midfield after quarter time and was strong in the contest accumulating 24 disposals. Named second best for his team.

Flynn Young – Newtown & Chilwell
Kicked three goals from six scoring shots in a comfortable victory away at St Albans. Was involved in a number of good passages of play as the Eagles run out 106-point winners.

ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Lachlan Smart - Deer Park
Had an impressive outing against former WRFL counterpart St Albans with 25 disposals and a game-high four goals. Was explosive inside attacking 50 and clean with ball in hand as the Lions defeated the Saints by 35 points in their first matchup in the EDFL.

Cam McLeod - Avondale Heights
Named Avondale’s best in a heavy loss to last year’s runner up Aberfeldie. Played the first three quarters forward taking six marks inside 50. However, failed to capitalise on the scoreboard kicking 2.3 before spending the last quarter on the wing. Finished with 19 disposals and 11 marks.

Darcy Cassar – Keilor
Entered Keilor’s clash with Pasco Vale a bit under the weather due to illness. Had 16 disposals for the day, with all but one of them finding a target, as the Blues overcame the Panthers by two goals.

VICTORIAN AMATUER FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Jack Boyd – Old Xavierians
Played a starring role in helping Old Xavierians to a 10-goal win over Old Melburnians splitting his time between attack and the ruck. Presented well both deep forward and when higher up the ground and booted five goals with three of those in the space of as many minutes in the third quarter.

Zayne Galea - Williamstown CYMS
Was another tough day for The Cy’s with an 81-point loss to Fitzroy but individually built on last week’s performance and looking more comfortable across the duration of the match.

Werribee collected its second win of the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season with a dominant display against traditional rivals Williamstown in Round 5 to reclaim the John Pyne Cup.

The Anzac round victory over the Seagulls was the Big W’s first home win of the season with the 93-point result coming on past players and officials day with a large contingent watching on.

After being plagued by inaccuracy against Geelong just a week earlier, Werribee was clinical in front of goal with Hudson Garoni leading the way.

The key forward’s six majors was a career-high while Connor Thar finished with four to tally his best return at VFL level. Tom Gribble, Dom Brew and Jack Henderson dominated in midfield with 80 disposals and 28 clearances between them.

Shaun Manngah kicked the first of Werribee’s 24 goals five minutes into the contest and then Garoni opened his account two minutes later. Further majors to Dom Brew and Garoni and a goalless term by Williamstown had the hosts leading by 25 points at the first change.

It didn’t take long for Werribee to increase its advantage in the second quarter with Bailey Henderson booting his first Werribee goal after just two minutes before Sam Paea nailed the Big W’s sixth.

Thar was next to hit the scoreboard putting Werribee up by 43 points at the 12-minute mark of the term. After back-to-back Williamstown goals Thar would add his second with four minutes remaining before another Seagulls major reduced the margin to 31 points at halftime.

The second half started with Mannagh again goaling early but from there the the two sides traded majors with Garoni responding on three consecutive occasions following Williamstown goals. His fifth came 24 minutes into the quarter before Paea and Nick Hayes had the hosts up by 48 points.

The third finished with Corey Ellison kicked a late goal for Williamstown which would be the last score for the visitors for nearly half an hour as Werribee ran riot adding 9.3 in the first 23 minutes of the final stanza.

Williamstown’s two fourth quarter majors came a minute apart, but the final highlight would come from the boot of former Seagull Noah Lever who ensured Werribee made it 10 majors in the term when he botted his first goal for his new club.

Werribee’s dominance was evident in the final statistics as the home team ended the match +69 in disposals, +31 in contested possessions and +28 in clearances. The Big W also went inside 50 20 more times and out tackled the Seagulls 74 to 47.

FINAL SCORE
Werribee: 4.3 8.5 14.5 24.10 (154)
Williamstown: 0.2 3.4 7.5 9.7 (61)

GOALS
Werribee: H. Garoni 6, C. Thar 4, S. Mannagh 3, N. Hayes 3, K. Declase 2,, S. Paea 2, D. Brew, J. Henderson, N. Lever, J. Porter.
Williamstown: J. Ottavi 2, C. Ellison 2, M. Walker, D. Andrews, M. Philpot, J. Pongracic, C. Preston.

BEST
Werribee: H. Garoni, T. Gribble, D. Brew, C. Thar, B. Malual, J. Henderson.
Williamstown: 

ROUND 5 IMAGE GALLERY - VIEW HERE

PLAYER STATS
Tom Gribble: 30 disposals (16 K, 14 HB) at 80% efficiency, 15 contested possessions, 11 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 12 score involvements, 5 tackles.
Bior Malual: 25 disposals (20 K, 5 HB) at 80% efficiency, 12 handball receives, 5 marks (1 contested), 6 score involvements, 4 tackles.
Dom Brew: 25 disposals (20 K 5 HB), 14 contested possessions, 10 clearances, 11 inside 10 score involvements, 11 tackles.
Jack Henderson: 21 disposals (14 K 10 HB), 11 contested possessions, 7 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 9 score involvements.
Kobe Annand: 14 disposals (6 K, 8 HB), 27 hit-outs, 7 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 8 score involvements, 5 tackles.
Connor Thar: 14 disposals (12 K, 4 HB), 3 marks, 5 score involvements, 4 goals, 4 tackles.
Nick Hayes: 13 disposals (8 K, 5 HB), 5 marks (1 contested), 9 score involvements, 3 goals, 4 tackles.
Hudson Garoni: 10 disposals (8 K, 2 HB), 8 marks (4 contested), 9 score involvements, 6 goals.

NEXT MATCH 
Round 7
Werribee vs Essendon
Sunday 7th May, 2:05pm
NEC Hangar, Melbourne Airport