Last year’s Western Region Football League Rookie of the Year, Saad El-Hawli has signed with Werribee for the upcoming season.   

The former Western Jets player impressed in his first season of senior football finishing as Altona’s leading goal kicking with 26 majors while earning selection in the 2021 WRFL Team of the Year.  

Werribee football manager Mark Micallef said El-Hawli deserved his spot on the list after standing out among the group of players that trialed with the club early this preseason.  

“Saad is a hard running and quick player who has got really good bounce and foot skills,” he said. 

“He has the ability to play multiple roles but will start as a forward with us.  

“Saad’s story is great one, he actually approached Choco Williams a couple of years ago about the opportunity to train with the club, he got his chance this preseason and hasn’t put a foot wrong. 

“We look forward to seeing what he can develop into over the course of the 2022 season.” 

El-Hawli, 20 said he is looking to make the most of his opportunity at Avalon Airport Oval. 

“A lot of setbacks along the way but I just had faith in myself and what I’m capable of and thankful that Werribee sees my potential and gives me a crack at it this year,” he said. 

“It’s all been smooth sailing so far; the club makes everything pretty simple and the coaches and boys get around you a lot which I appreciate. 

“I’m just going about things day-by-day and session to session trying to get better as we go, and hopefully I can be an asset to the team. 

“The coaches want me to use my speed as my strong point and I’m just trying to make sure my work at training is top notch.” 

Werribee has signed a second Calder Cannons graduate for 2022 in midfielder Sam Clohesy.  

The 189-cm onballer arrives at Avalon Airport Oval after some impressive form for Calder along with two outings in the VFL for the Sydney Swans when based in Melbourne for several weeks last year.   

Clohesy averaged 20 disposals across seven NAB League games and displayed his ball winning ability on VFL debut gathering 17 disposals and five tackles against Frankston in round 12.   

Werribee football manager Mark Micallef said the club was thrilled to secure another exciting midfield talent.  

“Sam is a really quick inside outside midfielder who has been a part of several different programs in recent years, including the Gold Coast Academy before moving back to Victoria,” he said.  

“Sam was highly sought after as he showed he is capable of playing at the level with his two performances for Sydney last year, and we think there’s really good scope for him in our system. 

“He’s a really good trainer who is committed to working on his body to take his game to another level and we think he fits really well with our culture.”  

Residing in Geelong and knowing several players already on the list, Clohesy said Werribee was a great fit for the next step in his career.  

“Coming out of the NAB League and looking at VFL options Werribee was a club close to home and a few of my older mates here said the club’s great, so I’m rapt to be a part of it,” he said.   

“I jumped around a fair bit last year (Clohesy was also a mid-season addition to Coburg’s list) but getting to play a couple of VFL games was a big step up, but I loved it.  

“I’m obviously hopefully to play as many games as I can in 2022, but we’ll see how this year goes, I just want to really enjoy my footy.” 

Werribee has continued its recruiting pipeline in Tasmania bringing in former Clarence midfielder Ethan Jackson. 

The 21-year-old is the is first interstate signing ahead of the 2022 season and arrives at the club with an exciting mix of athleticism and skill.  

After touching down in Melbourne on Sunday, Jackson joined his new teammates for the first time on Monday and said he is looking forward to testing himself at a higher level.  

“I played Tassie footy for a while and just wanted a new challenge,” he said. 

“I’ve played with some blokes that have played in the VFL and they’ve come back home and definitely been quality players, and coming here to Werribee it’s a pretty professional environment. 

“I’m coming off a fractured collarbone which I injured before (TSL) finals but it’s all good now and preseason is going to be building confidence again to go full bore.” 

With the club finding success with Tasmania recruits in the past Werribee football manager Mark Micallef hopes that can be emulated with Jackson.  

“Ethan is a strong bodied and versatile forward/mid who can take a really good mark overhead and is really good in and around the stoppages,” he said. 

“He finished high up in the Tasmanian League best and fairest award despite missing the end of the season with a shoulder injury, but we’re really excited to see how he goes in the VFL. 

“(Recruiter) Mark Stone has done a really great job identifying Ethan and we were lucky enough to beat some other VFL clubs to attain his services.  

“We’ve been able to get some really good Tasmanian talent to Werribee in the past with Ben Brown, Brody Mihocek and Matt Hanson and we hope that continues with Ethan.” 

More young talent has been added to Werribee’s forward line with Calder Cannons standout Sam Paea signing on for 2022.

The promising tall started last season with a VFL debut for Essendon before enjoying a strong 19th year campaign in the NAB League finishing runner-up in Calder’s 2021 best and fairest count. 

Paea, 19, adds to the list of key forwards at the club under the age of 22.  

Werribee football manager Mark Micallef said Paea was another highly sort of youngster the club was thrilled to secure. 

“Sam will come onto our list as an under 22 player for 2022 and alongside Hudson Garoni and Aidan Johnson is another young forward were excited to develop,” he said.  

“Sam is an athletic key forward that can rotate through the ruck, has good aerial strength and is very good below his knees. 

“We can’t wait to see what he can be not just in the short term but also the long term.” 

Paea said Werribee felt like an ideal place for him due to the club’s recent success with key forwards.  

“The group of guys here and the coaching staff I feel like they will get the best out of me and help my development,” he said. 

“I played a couple of (VFL) practice games and then was lucky enough to play round 1 with Essendon up in Brisbane, that was a great experience and something that I think helped me throughout the year. 

“I didn’t have the ideal start (for Calder) in terms of goal kicking, but then I started to find some pretty good form.  

“This year I just want to find consistency week to week, I’ve been focusing on my running ability and just being able to work up and down the ground all game.”