Werribee got its 2022 VFL season off to a winning start with a hard-fought victory under lights at Frankston on Saturday night in the inaugural clash for the SkyBus Cup.

The Big W trailed by as much as 11 points early in the second half but five straight goals from the 15-minute mark of the third quarter gave the visitors the ascendancy before claiming a 26-point victory at the final siren.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Werribee rolled out eight first gamers at SkyBus Stadium and it was one of those in Tom McCaffrey who opened Werribee’s scoring in 2022 with a goal six minutes into the contest after Frankston had controlled the early stages. Werribee settled into the match from there and dominated possession for the next eight minutes, but it was the home side, against the run of play, who would kick the game’s second. Three more Werribee behinds failed to see the visitors capitalise before former Hawthorn player Ollie Hanrahan finally gave Werribee some further reward late, when he snapped a classy goal with his back against the boundary.

The second quarter continued to see more highly contested football and after Frankston failed to make the most of three scoring opportunities Werribee’s first inside 50 resulted in a goal to Logan Wagener to give the Big W a 12-point buffer. The next seven minutes were scoreless before Frankston kicked its first of the term at the 18-minute mark. That was meet by a Werribee reply with Jack Henderson goaling four minutes later, but the home side maintained the upper hand around the footy and two goals in the final four minutes of the half saw the Dolphins enter the main break with a three-point advantage.  

In the third it was Frankston who started the stronger of the two sides, but they again failed to make the most of their attacking opportunities while Werribee’s first furore forward would result in Kye Declase converting a set shot following a calm and controlled build out of defence. Frankston won the next centre clearance and back-to-back goals would see the hosts with an 11-point lead 10 minutes in, but the momentum would soon swing back in Werribee’s favour. McCaffrey goaled twice in the space of a minute and with Josh Porter making his presence felt in the middle of the ground two more majors followed from Shaun Mannagh and Declase. Another Mannagh goal on the stroke of three-quarter time saw Werribee with 21-point lead going into the last.

The frantic pace and relentless pressure of the first three terms started to show when the fourth quarter got underway but despite the play opening up, scoring remained hard to come by. Two more of Werribee’s first gamers hit the scoreboard in the last with Sam Paea opening his account three minutes in before Reuben William goaled at the halfway mark. With Nathan Cooper remaining stout in defence and Tom Gribble and Henderson both finishing off strong nights in midfield Werribee was able to safely secure its first four points of the season.

FINAL SCORE

Werribee: 2.6 4.6 10.9 12.11 (83)
Frankston: 1.3 4.9 6.12 7.15 (57)

GOALS

Werribee: T. McCaffrey 3, K. Declase 2, S. Mannagh 2, O. Hanrahan, J. Henderson, L. Wagener, S. Paea, R. William.
Frankston: J. Stern 2, W. Walker 2, T. Mynott, R. Stoddart, W. Fordham

BEST

Werribee: N. Cooper, T. Gribble, S. Mannagh, K. Declase, J. Henderson, J. Porter
Frankston:

KEY PLAYERS

Tom Gribble : 34 disposals (23 kicks), 24 contested possessions, 9 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s, 6 tackles.
Jack Henderson: 24 disposals, 13 groundball gets, 7 clearances, 7 tackles, 2 score assists.
Kye Declase: 23 disposals (18 kicks), 7 marks, 5 rebound 50s, 4 inside 50s, 6 score involvements, 2 goals.
Shaun Mannagh: 23 disposals, 6 inside 50s, 5 clearances, 7 tackles, 7 score assists, 3 goals.
Ollie Hanrahan: 22 disposals. 4 clearances, 7 tackles, 6 score involvements, 1 goal.
Hudson Garoni: 16 disposals, 8 marks (3 contested) 15 hit-outs, 6 tackles, 5 score involvements.
Marty Brennan: 15 disposals (11 contested), 4 clearances, 3 tackles, 2 score assists.  

View the Match Gallery HERE

Watch match replay HERE

NEXT MATCH

Werribee vs Southport
Saturday, April 9, 7.05pm
Avalon Airport Oval

Werribee last week locked in its 42-man squad ahead of the commencement of the 2022 VFL season with Jay Dahlhaus signed to the club’s final list spot.  

Dahlhaus debuted for the club as an under 22 player in round one last year and now starts this season on Werribee’s primary list.  

The exciting small forward added size and explosiveness in the offseason before overcoming a preseason injury to impress in all four of the club’s recent practice matches. 

Werribee football manager Mark Micallef said Dahlhaus had demonstrated a strong commitment to improve his body and game. 

“Jay had to work really had to earn his spot on the list in terms of his conditioning and getting his body ready for the rigours of VFL footy,” he said. 

“We set some targets for him at the end of last year and he’s gone out and achieved those with great enthusiasm.  

“Jay’s a great character, he’s a personality that provides great energy around our group and we’re excited to have his pressure and intensity around the contest.”  

Dahlhaus will retain the number 24 guernsey which he wore in his two games last year.  

In addition to the 42 players that make up the primary and development lists the club will carry an additional 12 players for the season.    

All 12 rookie players have been with the club for the duration of the preseason and can be brought onto either the primary or development lists at any stage in 2022.

Clubs can make a maximum of 16 list changes over the course of the season. 

Along with injury cover, the AFL’s COVID Top Up Players Contingency is another scenario which might open a list spot.  

Werribee along with the Northern Bullants have been aligned to the Sydney Swans who will have access to players from both clubs as part of the AFL COVID Contingency Plan.  

The Swans recently nominated Ollie Hanrahan, Shaun Mannagh, Nathan Cooper and Sam Paea as Werribee players they can call upon in the case that they fall below 30 available players of their own. 

Werribee wrapped up its preseason on Friday night with a trip to Highgate Reserve in Craigiebrun to again face a fellow standalone, Coburg on this occassion.

The club named a 28-man squad for the match and among it was a preseason debut for Jack Driscoll with the young ruckman returning to full fitness after a minor injury setback.

Werribee started the match well with key players Tom Gribble, Shaun Mannagh and Nick Coughlan among those to have an instant impact.

Up forward it was a trio of talented youngsters who helped the Big W out to an early lead with Hudson Garoni, Sam Paea and Saad El-Hawli all kicking first quarter goals. 

Coburg, a team that finished 2021 with a 3-7 record while losing four games by four points or less, provided a real challenege for Werribee through the second and third terms.

After holding the Big W to just two behinds in the third quarter the Lions went into the final term with a two-point advantage and quickly extended that when the final stanza got underway.

However, Werribee showed great character to wrestle back control as Gribble led the way in the centre of the ground and the likes of Jack Henderson and Kye Declase continually drove the ball inside 50.

With plenty of repeat entries Josh Porter and several other forwards were able to take advantage while in defence Nathan Cooper and Tom Boyd did all they could to ensure the team a fourth preseason win.

Scroll down to hear from senior coach Michael Barlow and young defender Jesse Clark.

MATCH DETAILS

Werribee: 3.2 6.6 6.8 10.14 (74)
Northern Bullants: 2.1 4.3 7.4 9.7 (61)

GOALS
Werribee: J. Porter 4, H. Garoni, S. Paea, S. El-Hawli, J. Henderson, J. Dahlhaus, S. Mannagh

BEST
Werribee: J. Porter, K. Declase, N. Cooper, J. Henderson, T. Gribble, T. Boyd 

NEXT MATCH

ROUND 1
Frankston v Werribee
Saturday March 26, 7.05pm
SkyBus Stadium, Frankston