The Werribee Football Club is proud to confirm our long-standing partnership with Melbourne Avalon Airport will continue until at least the end of 2027.

Having recently become known as Melbourne Avalon Airport, the facility offers travellers a convenient and time-efficient service through pocket-friendly airfares. As its slogan says, it’s flying made easy.

With significant growth over the past decade, the airport has become the first choice destination for many local Geelong and Wyndham residents, for both domestic and international travel.

Having commenced its support of the club in 2011, Werribee’s traditional Chirnside Park home has since become known as Avalon Airport Oval.

This recent rebrand means the venue will be known as Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval from 2025.

Werribee FC CEO Mark Penaluna says “Melbourne Avalon Airport continue to be a wonderful partner of the Werribee Football Club.”

“It’s always been clear to us that both our club and the airport are very much aligned in terms of being at the forefront of the local community and nurturing excellence in all areas of our organisations.”

“We can’t thank Ari and the rest of the Melbourne Avalon Airport team enough for their ongoing support of the club, and we’re excited to be able to continue the success of our partnership.”

Ari Suss, Acting CEO of Melbourne Avalon Airport, is thrilled to continue the partnership.

“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to supporting local communities, nurturing talent, and fostering growth in the region,” he says.

“We are invested in the success of the region and we are proud to contribute to the Werribee Tigers’ success. Together, we are building a lasting legacy of excellence both on and off the field.”

In 2025, We’re Going Again … Are You? Purchase your Werribee FC membership HERE.

‘It is a fitting end to an incredible season for the club” those words summed up President Martin Carter’s feelings in announcing that senior coach Jimmy Allan and Football Manager Ash Collins have signed till the end of the 2026 season.

‘Everyone at the club has celebrated the premiership success and rightly so, but now it is time to look ahead and we have the two best football people secured. I hope supporters will become members, members will re-sign early and the community joins us to share in this very exciting time for the club”

Training and planning for the 2025 season is well under way for both Allan and Collins along with the finalisation of the playing list and changes to staff. Allan is very pleased with how things are developing. 

“The premiership changed where we are as a club in many ways but internally it has not changed our values, work ethic and commitment. For Ash and I having the stability of this long-term commitment allows us to focus on our core objectives for the club. We are grateful that the Board has seen fit to extend our time and we’re excited about the opportunity to continue to play our part in leading the club forward. The 2024 premiership is now part of the club’s rich history. Let’s move onto the next chapter.’       

Photo: AFL Photos.     

Werribee’s Operations Manager Zach Thornton who has spent seven years with Werribee has left to pursue a new career in the music industry with Good Neighbour, part of the Mushroom Group.

A proud City of Wyndham local, Thornton’s association with Werribee Football Club began well before his full-time employment. As part of a university placement in 2015, he worked as an intern under Mark Penaluna. A few years later, a chance meeting with the Werribee CEO at Eagle Stadium, while Thornton was working for Western Leisure Services, led to his appointment as a casual Match Day Manager for the 2018 season.

In his first season in 2018, Thornton worked from portable offices located at the back of Avalon Airport Oval while the venue underwent extensive redevelopments. Returning in 2019, as the upgraded facilities opened, Thornton’s role also advanced as he secured a full-time position as Memberships & Match Day Manager.

Throughout the challenges to the competition posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the cancellation of the entire 2020 season and the latter half of 2021, Thornton remained working with the club and emerged from the pandemic as Werribee’s Operations Manager following the 2022 season.

Looking back on his time at the club, Thornton said, “I'm incredibly proud to have been part of such an important institution in my hometown these past seven years.”

He added, “Pena and WFC have been very kind to me and if I can depart with the belief that I've left an imprint on the club for the better then I leave a happy man.”

Mark Penaluna, the man who brought Zach to the club in 2018, said, “Zach will leave a significant hole but a positive legacy with our club, possibly none more so than how he carried himself as a young man during the COVID pandemic. We wish him absolutely the best with his future endeavours.”

Replacing Thornton is Sam Wharton, who brings prior experience from fellow standalone VFL club Port Melbourne and most recently, the not-for-profit organisation Reclink. Wharton has already spent six weeks settling into his new role.

One of the proudest partnerships in VFL football will continue into a 26th season in 2025, with CB Motor Group returning as the Werribee’s major sponsor once again next season.

The family business which started as Ballan Holden in 1978 has been incorporated with the football club since becoming major sponsor in 2000.

Tino Ballan, founder of CB Motor Group, has long held a deep connection with the Werribee Football Club, predating his time as major sponsor. His two sons, Paul (Werribee Football Club player #450) and Mark (Werribee Football Club player #452), both played for at least four seasons starting in 1994.

Speaking as the partnership continues into its 26th season, Tino said, “When the opportunity came for us, formerly Ballan Holden now CB Motor Group, to be major sponsor I took it.” He added, “I first came to Werribee in 1958 and in that time built successful businesses and supported locals. My perseverance and belief in business is something that I felt for the Werribee Football Club.”

Reaching the quarter of a century milestone in 2024, Tino Ballan and the CB Motor Group family celebrated the ultimate success this season, as Werribee broke a 31-year premiership drought and defeated Southport by six points in a thrilling Grand Final win.

Reflecting on the premiership success, Tino expressed, “I believed in them and this year capped off that belief with the club winning the Premiership. The excitement I felt was elation, I have not felt that way since my kids and Grandchildren were born.”

Tino also shared his appreciation for culture of the club: “This sense of community is a very big part of my sponsorship and I am so proud to sponsor for the 2025 season ahead.” This sentiment was echoed by Werribee star Dom Brew during his acceptance speech for a second consecutive club best-and-fairest award at the club’s end-of-season Bruce Montgomery Night. Brew said, “Tino your support for the club, you and your family, that’s just phenomenal - Thank you to you and your family for your constant support, it’s absolutely huge.”

The Werribee connection is unmissable, with premiership merchandise adorned across the CB Motor Group premises, and the Ballan family rarely miss a home game.

CEO Mark Penaluna praised the CB Motor Group, saying “The Ballan family have shown unbelievable loyalty to our club, which in many ways has been epitomised by 25 years of service.”

“Both they and the club have longed for the ultimate prize and now, like the rest of us, yearn for the club’s continued improvement. Together, I know we’ll be doing all we can for a successful 2025.”