Four of Werribee’s top young players in Jesse Clark, Sam Conway, Jay Dahlhaus and Charlie Ham have all re-committed for next season.

Clark and Dahlhaus are set for their fourth and third years with the club while Ham and Conway will enter their second seasons at Avalon Airport Oval in 2023.

After playing every game in 2021 hybrid defender Clark was only able to add four games this year after a knee injury suffered in round five ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

Dahlhaus emerged as a dangerous small forward in 2022 and tallied 18 goals in 14 games after adding the ability to regularly hit the scoreboard to his elite level pressure.

Ham, a mid-season draft selection by North Melbourne in 2021, appeared in all 18 games this season and was named Best First Year Player after a consistent campaign across halfback and on the wing.

After three games in three years at Williamstown, Conway claimed Werribee’s number one ruck mantle in 2022, showcasing his potential in 15 games with several impressive outings mid-season.

“It’s exciting to have this group of four back on board, all are Geelong Falcons products and have shown the ability to be consistent contributors at VFL level,” football manager Mark Micallef said.

“Jesse unfortunately suffered a knee injury in the first half of the season but is and outstanding young leader and reliable defender while Jay really announced himself in the VFL this year.

“Charlie and Sam slotted into our program seamlessly, both are real competitors, Charlie is able to match it with bigger bodies and Sam too, as he went up against AFL-listed ruckmen most weeks.”

Picture (left to right): Jay Dahlhaus, Sam Conway, Charlie Ham, Jesse Clark.

Werribee has retained a mix of key position talent, leadership and quality with Nathan Cooper, Nick Hayes, Josh Porter and Bior Malual all re-signing for 2023. 

Hayes and Porter, both 28, are two of the team’s elder statesmen with Hayes having played footy across three different states while Porter has now had three stints in the VFL with Werribee.  

The pair offered great versatility in 2022, South Australian-native Hayes was again crucial in the forward half with his ability to play up the ground or close to goal while Porter provided sure hands in attack and plenty of minutes as a back-up ruckman. 

Hulking fullback Cooper enters his third year at the club and will be hoping for some continuity with his footy next season after a COVID-year and then an injury-affected 2022 that limited him to 12 games.   

Malual is approaching 50 games for the club after breaking through at VFL level in 2019 and will again be relied upon for his dash and as one of the side’s best kicks.   

“It’s great to have these four guys re-commit for another season as they’re all hugely important to us at both ends of the ground,” Werribee football manager Mark Micallef said.  

“Josh and Nick are two of our most experienced players and are so important to our forward group thanks to their football IQ and ability to direct and educate our younger players. 

“Nathan is one of our key posts down back and was terrific early in the season before going down with injury while Bior is crucial to the way we play with his hard running and beautiful ball use.” 

Meanwhile Ollie Hanrahan recently informed the club he will take some time away from football in 2023 after deciding to focus on cricket over the next 12 months. 

Harahan joined Werribee after five seasons in the AFL with Hawthorn and was a quality addition for the club with his class on full display in several matches in 2022, most notably against his former club Box Hill in round 19.  

Hanrahan will appear for Hawthorn Kingston in Victorian Premier Cricket this summer and then plans to spend next winter playing in England. 

Picture (left to right): Josh Porter, Nathan Cooper, Bior Malual, Nick Hayes.

Werribee has locked in four key pieces for next season with Kye Declase, Shaun Mannagh, Jack Henderson and Hudson Garoni all re-signing with the club.

Declase and Mannagh both earned the VFL Team of the Year honours for the first time in 2022 before finishing second and third respectively in this year’s Bruce Montogomery Trophy, while Henderson and Garoni are two of the club’s standout players under the age of 23.

After spending the second half of 2021 with AFL premiers Melbourne, Declase returned to Avalon Airport Oval this past season where he enjoyed another stellar campaign on the wing.

Mannagh built on a brilliant first season for the club to again be one of the team’s best offensive weapons while also showcasing his versatility as a damaging midfielder.

Henderson again played a variety of roles to great effect and is yet to miss a game since his debut in 2018, making 65 consecutive appearances in black and gold.

Meanwhile, Garoni topped Werribee’s goal kicking for the first time in 2022, kicking five majors on three occasions as well as tallying the second most contested marks in the VFL.

Werribee football manager Mark Micallef said the re-signings were great news for the club.

“We’re extremely delighted to have some of our key pillars in Kye, Shaun, Jack and Hudson all re-sign for 2023,” he said.

“They have been outstanding performers for the club over recent seasons and each has the potential to take their game to another level and help us achieve our on-field goals.

“For us it was fantastic to see an unwavering commitment from all four to want to remain at the club and be a part of success here.”

Picture (left to right): Jack Henderson, Shaun Mannagh, Kye Declase, Hudson Garoni.

Werribee co-captain Tom Gribble added to his list of accolades this season, winning the 2022 Bruce Montgomery Trophy on Thursday night.

Gribble polled 179 votes to claim his second Werribee best and fairest award and complete his second J.J Liston Trophy/Bruce Montogmery Trophy double after his first in 2019.

He finished seven votes ahead of runner up Kye Declase (172) with Shaun Mannagh third on 147 votes. All three were members of the VFL Team of the Year.

Gribble averaged a career-high 33.2 disposals per game this season, leading not only Werribee but the league in several major statistical categories.  

Runner up Decalse achieved his best resut in a club best and fairest after a brilliantly consistent and at times dominant campaign, while Mannagh's third followed a second place finish last year.

The club introduced a new voting criteria for 2022 with senior coach Mick Barlow and assistants Nick Daffy, James Saker and Tom Perrett each awarding 0-5 votes to every player at the end of each game.

Completing the top five was Louis Pinnuck (146 votes) and Nick Coughlan (145 votes).

Coughlan finished in the top five despite missing the first six games of the season and was also named Defensive Player of the Year. Fellow defender Pinnuck received Most Improved having enjoying his best year in his fifth season of VFL football.

Four-time best and fairest winner Matt Hanson won Trademark Player of the Year, an award voted on by the 23 selected players each round.

Charlie Ham was named Best First Year Player appearing in all 18 games in 2022 after joining the club from North Melbourne.

With 32 majors Hudson Garoni was the team’s leading goal kicker while versatile forward Nick Hayes received this year’s Coaches Award.

Emmanuel Ajang was named the Local Player of the Year after another terrific season for Geelong West before being rewarded with a VFL debut in the final round of the campaign.

The Community Development Award went to Jesse Clark for his efforts upholding the club’s values of Community, Driven, Care while Connor Thar and Shaun Mannagh were the recipients of the Property and Trainers awards.

George Riddiford was recognised with the Ray Smith Club Person Award for his continued volunteer work at the club several mornings a week and on game days.

2022 Award Winners

Property Award: Shaun Mannagh
Trainers Award: Connor Thar
Community Development Award: Jesse Clark
Ray Smith Club Person: Georgie Riddiford
Life Membership: Michael Sodomaco & Tom Gribble  
Local Player of the Year: Emmanuel Ajang (Geelong West)
Best First Year Player: Charlie Ham
Coaches Award: Nick Hayes
Most Improved: Louis Pinnuck
Leading Goal Kicker: Hudson Garoni (32 goals)
Defensive Player of the Year: Nick Coughlan
Trademark Player of the Year: Matt Hanson

2022 Bruce Montgomery Trophy Photo Gallery: VIEW HERE