With Werribee having the bye in the VFL it saw nine players get the chance to pull on the boots and represent the club at local level, with several returning from injury making a strong case for selection as the team heads into another finals campaign. Read how they performed in this week’s Local Player Report:

Essendon District Football League: 

Sam Paea - Aberfeldie
Paea had a huge day as Aberfeldie had a thrilling win over Avondale Heights. The key forward, playing a split of forward and ruck booted six goals, including three crucial majors in the final quarter to secure the win after leading by just three points at three-quarter time. Paea also gathered 15 disposals at an impressive 87% efficiency, took eight marks, and won several clearances in the ruck. 

Cam McLeod - Aberfeldie
The half-back had a strong game offensively alongside Paea in Aberfeldie’s win. After making his first VFL appearance of 2024 last weekend against Southport, McLeod gathered an effective 17 disposals in his return to the True Blues, alongside six marks and three inside 50s.  

Reuben William - Keilor
Was apart of Keilor’s first loss in 713 days as Airport West got the victory by 13 points, as the Blues last quarter fightback was not enough. William was named in the best and was very efficient with his touches while playing a big role defensively. 

Geelong Football Netball League: 

Connor Thar - Lara
Thar had another strong game in the midfield as Lara went down to Bell Park. Named in the best, he collected 28 disposals, with his contested work a highlight, finding 16 contested possessions and 10 clearances as he strings together strong games in his return from injury in the GFNL.

Victorian Amateaur Football Assocation: 

Harrison Miller - Williamstown CYMS
Miller showed his class as the CYs had a big win over Beaumaris. Named in the best, the small forward kicked three goals, as well as finding 20 disposals, where he went at an effective 75%, and took seven marks. 

Zayne Galea - Williamstown CYMS
It was a big day for our two CYs’ train-ons, as Galea dominated in the air and had a huge impact in Willy’s win. The key forward took 13 marks on his way to 19 disposals, and booted two goals as he continues to show impressive signs in the forward line. 

Western Football Netball League: 

Michael Selsby - Yarraville Seddon Eagles
On a disappointing day for the Eagles, who went down to Hoppers Crossing by 32 points at home, Selsby had a solid outing in the midfield. Was strong in the contest, collecting 12 contested possessions in his 18 disposals, went inside 50 seven times and won four clearances. 

Ubil Chol - Caroline Springs
With a big win over Altona, Caroline Springs put themselves two points behind Werribee Districts with two games to play before finals, and Chol had another strong defensive game, while not wasting a touch to go with several marks.

Ovens & Murray Football Netball League: 

Hamish Gilmore - Albury Tigers
Gilmore was busy in defense for Albury, despite their heavy defeat to ladder leaders Yarrawonga. He gathered 23 disposals at 83% efficiency, took five marks, and made seven 1%’ers.

While Werribee suffered their first loss in the VFL level since Round 5, there are positive signs showing at local level with 11 players representing the Big W across six leagues. Read about how they went in this week’s Local Player Report:

Geelong Football Netball League: 

Olivier Northam - St. Joseph’s
Northam returned to St. Joseph’s on the weekend after a four-week patch playing for South Adelaide in the SANFL and played a big role in St. Joseph’s win over Geelong West. The ruckman made his presence felt with 18 disposals, 14 contested possessions, three intercept marks, and 29 hitouts, showcasing his dominance both in the air and on the ground. 

Charlie Byrne - Newtown & Chilwell
Byrne was named in the best as Newtown had a thrilling seven point win over Grovedale. The half-back had a good game both offensively and defensively; using the ball well with his 21 disposals and seven rebound 50s. He also took five marks and played a key defensive role, ending with five 1%’ers and having the role on his Werribee teammate Mitch Chafer in the last quarter, where Byrne came out on top. 

Mitch Chafer - Grovedale
Chafer continued his goal kicking consistency as Grovedale fell just short to Byrne’s Newtown. The versatile forward added three goals to take his season tally to 23 from just the eight game, while also amassing 19 disposals, including 14 contested possessions, five marks and four tackles. 

Ovens & Murray Football Netball League: 

Hamish Gilmore - Albury
Gilmore put in a strong performance, despite Albury’s two-goal loss to Wodonga. The key defender notched a season-high 23 disposals at an impressive 87% efficiency, along with nine marks, including four intercepts.

Essendon District Football League: 

Wardell Lual - Airport West
Lual was named in the best for Airport West as the Eagles had a big win over Greenvale. The defender was strong in the marking contest, with nine marks and six spoils, and offered plenty of run from half-back, gathering 19 disposals at an efficient 84%.  

Sam Paea - Aberfeldie
Paea delivered a well-rounded performance in Aberfeldie’s thrilling five-point win over Strathmore. Splitting his time between forward and ruck, he collected 16 disposals at 75% efficiency, eight contested possessions, six marks (several contested), and went inside 50 five times. 

Reuben William - Keilor
William didn’t waste a possession as the ladder-leaders Keilor improved to a 15-0 record with an 109-point win over Avondale Heights. The half-back played at both ends throughout the afternoon to end with an efficient 14 disposals, with half being contested, took three marks and laid four tackles.

Hampden Football Netball League: 

Jay Rantall - South Warrnambool
Rantall continues to string together strong performances for South Warrnambool as the Roosters remain on top of the ladder with a 12 point victory over Cobden. Rantall’s contested work was again a highlight, as the midfielder found 20 disposals, including 14 contested possessions and seven clearances, laid six tackles and hit the scoreboard for an important goal. 

Victorian Amateur Football Association: 

Zayne Galea - Williamstown CYMS
Galea was named in the best as the CYs held on to a nine point victory over the Caulfield Grammarians. The key forward presented well all day to have a big influence on the win. He ended with seven marks, with five inside the forward 50, and booted two goals from ten disposals.  

Harrison Miller - Williamstown CYMS
After returning from injury last week, marking his first game since Round 3, the small forward backed it up with another strong performance. Miller competed hard all day, hit the scoreboard with a goal, and showcased strong forward pressure with five tackles.

Western Football Netball League:

Ubil Chol - Caroline Springs
Played a solid defensive game as Caroline Spring defeated Spotwood by four goals. The defender took four marks and had 5 1%’ers, along with 13 disposals where he used the ball well.

Southport snapped Werribee's eleven game winning streak with a thrilling victory at Avalon Airport Oval in their second encounter of the season. 

In a seesawing contest, Werribee rallied from a 17 point deficit late in the third quarter but could not hold on as the Sharks ran out six point winners. 

Aidan Johnson brought Werribee within a point late in the final term with a superb crumbing goal—his third major of the day. However, former Tiger Wylie Buzza sealed the game for Southport with a long-range set shot, leading to a 8.13 (61) to 8.7 (55) win.

Despite the loss, Jimmy Allan's men remain at the top of the ladder (14-3), with just one game remaining against Box Hill.

Werribee's defensive duo of Sam Azzi (10 disposals, 16 spoils) and Stefan Radovanovic (12 disposals, six intercepts) were outstanding in the absence of Nathan Cooper and Nick Coughlan, restricting Southport’s key forwards Hugh Dixon and Wylie Buzza to just two goals between them.

Aidan Johnson carried on his hot form to make it 11 goals in five games since his return from his bicep injury, taking seven marks amongst his 13 disposals and three majors. 

Dom Brew once again led the way in the midfield, gathering a game-high 34 disposals, which included 24 contested possessions and nine clearances. Brew was not surprisingly  the game’s leading tackler adding another 10 to his season tally.

Kobe Annand opened the scoring playing the role of rover, crumbing the pack and kicking a snapping goal for his first goal in open play of his VFL career. Southport’s inaccuracy in front of goal kept Werribee within striking distance, as the Tigers trailed by just two points at quarter-time despite having only two scoring shots to nine.

Jay Lockhart finally broke through for Southport's first goal five minutes into the second quarter, followed by Wylie Buzza’s first goal of the day, which extended Southport's lead to 14 points midway through the term. Aidan Johnson stopped the bleeding with a well-taken set shot reducing the deficit to six points at halftime.

Stand-in captain Dom Brew had a massive 19 disposals, with 15 contested at the main break, while defenders Louis Pinnuck (14 disposals and four marks) and Riley Bice (12 disposals) were offering plenty of dash off half-back.

In similar fashion to the second quarter, Southport came out of the break with the first two goals of the third term before Aidan Johnson answered back with a long range set shot goal. Hudson Garoni, who leads the competition in third quarter goals, then stood up to kick two in the space of four minutes, giving Werribee their first lead since the opening term. This took Garoni to 42 goals putting him equal top of the ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal with one match to play.