A couple of weeks ago we saw a video surface of raucous scenes inside the Western Bulldogs' changerooms with players belting out 90s pop hit Freed from Desire, following their preliminary final win over Port Adelaide.
It’s certainly not the first time we’ve seen or heard about celebrations like these and former Werribee player Ian Wilson has shared in his latest blog, how a bit of post-game singing became a feature during the club’s 1993 VFA premiership winning season.
Introduced and led by Neil “Codger” Connell who joined Werribee for the 1993 campaign, Wilson recalls how Sedaka’s Calendar Girl and the Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs version of Poison Ivy were among the songs regularly recited by the team.
You can read Ian’s latest blog post ‘Nostalgic Songs of Success’HERE.
Werribee has locked away three key members of its defence for 2022 with Nick Coughlan, Nathan Cooper and Jesse Clark all recommitting to the club.
Werribee limited opposition teams to just 64 points per game last season with Coughlan, Cooper and Clark all playing a pivotal role for the league’s fifth ranked defence.
Coughlan has been at the heart of Werribee’s backline since 2018 and this year was joined by Cooper who crossed from Richmond’s VFL outfit to feature as the team's other tall defender.
While injury forced the pair to miss the team’s last game of the season, Clark, 20, played every match after waiting an extra year for his first taste of VFL footy when 2020 was cancelled.
The former Geelong Falcons standout showcased his defensive capabilities with several impressive displays negating dangerous opposition forwards.
Werribee football manager Mark Micallef said the club was thrilled to be bringing back all three defenders.
“Nathan Cooper came to us from Richmond and cemented his spot as our last-line defender. He’s an elite preparer and someone we can rely on to do the job on the best key forward each week. He’s extremely dedicated to getting the most out of himself and we can’t wait to see even more growth from him,” Micallef said.
“Nick Coughlan as the club’s most experienced key defender and as a member of our leadership group has a real strong passion to deliver Werribee a premiership. He’s a great person to have down back but he’s also versatile and is someone we can trust to play a role up forward which he’s done at times in recent seasons.
“Jesse played all nine games this year and did some magnificent shut down roles on a range of opposition players. He’s a player that can help take us to the places we want to be, and we’re also excited by his leadership potential, so we’re really looking forward to seeing his development with another year in our system.”
Werribee has retained the services of three of its best ball users and outside runners by re-signing Jack Henderson, Bior Malual and Keegan Gray.
All three took another step forward with their play when the VFL returned in 2021.
Henderson spent more time in the midfield after previously playing as a small defender and small forward while Malual became team’s main offensive weapon out of defence.
Gray who played seven of nine games cemented his place in the best 22 with a number of dashing performances after coming into the side in round 3.
Gray and Henderson who both turn 22 in the coming months will extend their time at Werribee into a fifth year while 2022 will be Malual’s fourth year at the club after joining from Airport West.
Werribee football manager Mark Micallef said all three signatures were a high priority for the club.
“Jack Henderson had a fantastic year, he’s someone who can play a multitude of roles, is extremely coachable and runs his backside off each week. He’s the youngest member of our leadership group and someone we can see filling an even greater leadership role in coming seasons,” Micallef said.
“Keegan can play a number of outside roles for us off halfback or through the wing and is a beautiful decision maker with ball in hand. He’s a great character and like Jack has been a long-term player for Werribee now, with the club seeing him progress and develop from an 18-year-old kid.
“We’re extremely excited to have Bior back for another year, he’s a player that has the running capability and decision making to really hurt opposition teams and we saw that in multiple games this year. His ball use and attacking ability off halfback or the wing was a highlight for our team this season and we look forward to seeing more of that again next year.”
Werribee will return its core midfield group next season after Tom Gribble, Matt Hanson and Dom Brew all recommitted for 2022.
The trio led Werribee in clearances and contested possessions in 2021 and will again provide the club with incredible strength around the stoppages.
In 2021, Gribble tallied almost identical numbers to his 2019 J.J. Liston Trophy winning, season averaging 29.4 disposals per game with Hanson and Brew racking up career highs of 28.6 and 18.2 disposals respectively, while Brew topped the VFL in tackles for a second straight season.
Werribee football manager Mark Micallef said the club was delighted to have all three players returning in 2022.
“The re-signings of Tom Gribble, Matt Hanson and Dom Brew are fantastic for the club, all three provide great leadership for us and strength on the inside of the contest which we really pride ourselves on,” he said.
“Tom is the reigning Liston Trophy winner and enjoyed another strong year in 2021 while captaining the team in our final match. He continues to drive standards at the club and will play his 100th game for Werribee next season which is a great achievement.
“Matt is someone we can’t speak highly enough of; he’s been an outstanding player for a long period winning three best and fairests previously, and with his work at the stoppages he’s someone our coaches can rely on to do his job week in and week out.
“Dom is a competitive beast and another really strong leader and if you talk about blokes that live the club values he is right up there with a Michael Sodomaco. We’re extremely excited to have him committed for another year.”
Meanwhile, Wylie Buzza has informed the club he will be returning to Brisbane where he’ll be closer to family and friends after he and his partner Sarah recently announced their engagement.
The former AFL player signed at Avalon Airport Oval for 2021 after spending the previous season on Port Adelaide’s list following four years with Geelong.
Buzza’s lone season with Werribee saw him top the club’s goal kicking with 20 majors and provide crucial back-up to Matt Lobbe in the ruck, averaging 10 hit-outs a game.
The club would like to thank Wylie for his time as a player and ambassador for Werribee. We wish him all the best with his move back to Queensland and the next chapter of his life.
Michael Sodomaco is extending his VFL career into a 12th season.
The current Werribee captain arrived at Avalon Airport Oval in 2011 straight out of the Geelong Falcons and is now set to add to his 104 matches with the club a year after celebrating his 100-game milestone.
Sodomaco, 30, has played some of the most consistent football of his career over recent seasons and was again one of the club’s best rebounders in 2021 with his dash and decision making out of defence.
He played seven of the club’s nine games this year, missing one match for the birth of his and partner Sarah’s first child Rosie before being a late out in Round 16, the club’s final game of the season.
After a year interrupted by COVID lockdowns Sodomaco said he was looking forward to another season in black and gold.
“I’m excited to recommit, it’s been a weird sort of year but I’m keen to go around again,” he said.
“In a normal season you get to this time of year, finals wrap up and you’re ready to put your feet up for a few weeks before preseason comes around again but playing seven games across the past two seasons there’s certainly not that feeling, you just want to get stuck into it again.
“I had a really solid preseason that put me in good stead for this year, but I’m sure this next one will be a bit of a different challenge now that Rosie is here and I’ll be balancing work, family and footy, but I’m still loving my time at the club and I’m not ready to say goodbye just yet.
“I’ve been at Werribee so long now it feels like my local club, I love the guys we’ve got at the club and I still enjoy rolling into training each night which I think is important.”
Sodomaco averaged a career high 21.7 disposals per game in 2021 while running at 81% efficiency. He is also Werribee’s longest serving captain having held the position since the start of the 2015 season.
Werribee Football Manager Mark Micallef said it was fantastic to have Sodomaco committed for another season.
“We are delighted to lock-in Sods for another year, he is our longest serving captain and continues to grow as a leader while living the club’s values of community, driven, care,” Micallef said.
“He’s going to continue to provide key leadership for us and play an important role in our defence, and after enjoying a strong season we’re looking forward to seeing him continue that form for another year.”
