With finals football well and truly in full swing across Victoria, see which Werribee-listed players enjoyed wins and who the best performers were with their community clubs last weekend.

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Harrison White – Werribee Districts (Prelim Final)
Was influential yet again for Districts as they booked their place in the Division 1 grand final with a dominant win over Caroline Springs. His run was again impressive and thrived even with the Lakers sending a tag to him. Collected 22 disposals while nailing two goals.

This week: Grand Final - Altona vs Werribee Districts at Avalon Airport Oval, Saturday 17 September, 2:30pm.

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Logan Wagener – Leopold (Prelim Final)
Continued his good form as the Lions won through to this year’s GFL decider with a comprehensive 70-point triumph over Newtown & Chilwell. Found plenty of footy but also brought the same defensive work rate that he aways does. Had 25 disposals, eight tackles and a goal in the win.

Gennaro Bove – Newtown & Chilwell (Prelim Final)
Was one of the better performers for the Eagles in their preliminary final loss to Leopold. Despite the result capped his season on a positive note personally with 21 disposals, six tackles and a goal.

This week: Grand Final - St Mary's (Joe Maishman & Matt Keast) vs Leopold (Logan Wagener) at St Albans Reserve, Saturday 17 September, 2:10pm.

ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Lucas Rocci – Aberfeldie (Grand Final)
Played forward and impacted both on the scoreboard and with his defensive pressure in a losing effort against Strathmore. Kicked two goals from 10 disposals and laid five tackles. His two majors saw him finish with 29 goals from 10 games this season.

Sam Paea – Aberfeldie (Grand Final)
Held goalless in the season finale which saw Strathmore overcome a slight three-quarter time deficit to win by 16 points to claim this year’s Premier Division flag. Competed hard all day finishing with 12 disposals, 3 marks and three tackles.

OVENS & MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Tom Boyd – Wangaratta Rovers (Semi Final)
Enjoyed one of, if not his best games for Rovers who eliminated Albury from the premiership race with a five-point win. Lined up on a quality opponent and made his presence felt by marking everything that went his way. The only knock was his goal kicking after recording 3.6 on the day.

This week: Preliminary Final – Yarrawonga vs Wangaratta Rovers at North Albury, Saturday 17 September, 2:00pm.

Werribee co-captain Tom Gribble is now a two-time J.J Liston Trophy winner after a stunning victory in this year's VFL best-and-fairest.

Gribble became the first Werribee player to win the league's top honour twice and just the fourth player to win the award back-to-back having topped the last Liston Trophy count in 2019. 

The 27-year-old polled 30 votes to finish eight ahead of Southport Sharks teammates Jacob Dawson and Boyd Woodcock. He received votes in 12 matches, which included eight best-on-ground performances.

Gribble averaged a career-high 33.2 disposals per game in 2022 and led the VFL in total disposals with 597. He also ranked first for inside 50s (100) and was second for clearances (132) and contested possessions (249).

Gribble said it was incredible to win the award for a second time after drawing motivation from a challenging year off in 2020 and several other factors.

“It’s sort of hard to put into words really, I thought 2019 was a bit mind numbing but this is equal to that…it’s a great honour,” he said.

“I think the harbouring of the ambition to go on and play AFL footy has held me in good stead to find continual improvement within my game and I was also a little disappointed with how I played last year.

“Coming off the year off and my dad passing I didn’t play as well as I would have liked even though it was only a nine-game season.

“That spurred me on to get cracking a little bit earlier in terms of starting preseason, so the whips were cracking for me in August and then the captaincy also added another layer.

“I probably put more pressure on myself to perform and I did have a few conversations with Mick (Barlow) throughout the middle part of the year, in particular to just release and not put so much pressure on myself.”

Prior to being crowned the league's best-and-fairest Gribble was named in the centre in the Team of the Year and was joined by Werribee teammates Kye Declase (wing) and Shaun Mannagh (half-forward).

Declase averaged 22.3 disposals per game this year and tallied the second most marks in the competition (137) while adding 21 goals for the campaign.

Mannagh was Werribee's second leading goal kicker this season with 27 majors and topped the league with 30 goal assists to go with 19.6 disposals per game.

Werribee timekeeper Scott Bishop was also recognised on the night receiving the Alex Gillon Award as the VFL Volunteer of the Year.

The long-time servant has filled the role as Werribee's timekeeper at both home and away matches for the past 23 years, overseeing more than 650 games in that time. 

See the full list of award winners HERE.

The outstanding performers from the 2022 Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW seasons will be recognised when the 2022 VFL and VFLW Awards are announced on Monday evening.

The event will be held at Palladium at Crown on Monday September 12, starting at 7:00pm AEST and hosted by Nigel Carmody and Libby Birch. 

Among the awards that will be announced are:

• J.J Liston Trophy (VFL Best and Fairest)
• Lambert-Pearce Medal (VFLW Best and Fairest)
• rebel VFLW Team of the Year
• Smithy’s VFL Team of the Year
• rebel VFLW Coaches MVP
• Smithy’s VFL Coaches MVP
• Rohenna Young Medal (VFLW Leading Goalkicker)
• Jim ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal (VFL Leading Goalkicker)
• Debbie Lee Medal (VFLW Rising Star)
• Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal (VFL Rising Star)
• Ann Rulton VFLW Volunteer of the Year
• Alex Gillon VFL Volunteer of the Year
• Life Membership
• Umpires of the Year

Live stream the night HERE.

With finals football well and truly in full swing across Victoria, see which Werribee-listed players enjoyed wins and who the best performers were with their community clubs last weekend. 

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Harrison White – Werribee Districts (Semi Final)
Played a starring role on the wing and across halfback in a four-goal win over Deer Park. Utilised his speed while his line breaking run was crucial to Districts' set up. Finished as one of the highest possession getters and best on ground honours.

Connor Thar – Werribee Districts (Semi Final)
Made a solid return after eight weeks out and showed good poise when in possession. Hit some nice passes when playing forward and will be better for the run ahead of another do-or-die clash.

Lochie Smart – Deer Park (Semi Final)
Flashed his abilities early in the match against Werribee Districts but like the Lions in general, failed to take his chances. Snapped a nice goal in the last quarter when the result had been all but confirmed. 

Saad El-Hawli & Spencer Johnson – Altona (Semi Final)
Both played key roles a thrilling win over minor premiers Caroline Springs to help Altona advance to this year's WRFL decider. The duo was influential in a six-goal to three second half that helped the Vikings secure victory by six points. 

This week: Preliminary Final – Caroline Springs vs Werribee Districts at Avalon Airport Oval, Saturday 10 September, 2:15pm.

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Matt Keast – St Mary’s (Qualifying Final 2)
Had 23 disposals and five tackles as the Saints booked their place in this year’s grand final courtesy of a 30-point triumph over Newtown & Chilwell. Got better as the game went and played an important role in the final term when given a task to help get his side over the line.

Joe Maishman – St Mary’s (Qualifying Final 2)
Was very good when the game was in the balance during the third quarter and early in the last against the Eagles. His ability to burst from stoppage was a highlight and appears to be hitting his best form with a grand final just around the corner.

Gennaro Bove – Newtown & Chilwell (Qualifying Final 2)
Went goalless against St Mary’s but gets another crack at it this weekend as the Eagles take on Leopold with a grand final berth on the line.

Logan Wagener – Leopold (Semi Final)
Solid yet again with his midfield contributions seeing the Lions win through to the preliminary final with a convincing 70-point victory over Colac. Finished the day with 23 disposals including 16 kicks.

This week: Preliminary Final - Newtown & Chilwell vs Leopold at Windsor Park, Saturday 10 September, 2:10pm.

ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Reuben William – Airport West (Division 1 Grand Final)
Local Player of the Week
Best on ground in a winning grand final as the Eagles defeated Coburg West by 32 points. Was fantastic around the contest early and a standout contributor across all four quarters to earn the David McWilliam medal. Collected 22 disposals, seven marks and six tackles in a brilliant display.

This week: Premier Division Grand Final - Aberfeldie (Lucas Rocci & Sam Paea) vs Strathmore at Windy Hill Essendon, Saturday 10 September, 2:15pm.

OVENS AND MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Tom Boyd – Wangaratta Rovers (Elimination Final)
Played a pivotal hand kicking four goals in a 22-point Elimination Final win over Myrtleford. Boyd and former Werribee player Alex Marklew combined for nine of the Rovers’ 14 majors with the pair capitalising on some slick ball movement particularly during the middle two terms.

This week: Semi Final - Wangaratta Magpies (Dan Sharrock) vs Yarrawonga at John Foord Oval Corowa, Saturday 10 September, 2:00pm.

This week: Semi Final - Albury vs Wangaratta Rovers at Martin Park Wodonga, Sunday 11 September, 2:00pm.