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.” 

Werribee has lured another country football star to Avalon Airport Oval signing midfielder Marty Brennan from Ovens and Murray club Lavington.  

Brennan joins former premiership teammates Shaun Mannagh and Aidan Johnson at the club while also reuniting with Werribee defensive coach James Saker who he played two seasons under.  

At 25 years of age, Brennan is another mature body for Werribee’s midfield as well as having the ability to hit the scoreboard. 

After several unsuccessful attempts to entice him to the VFL previously, Werribee football manager Mark Micallef said it was great to have Brennan sign for 2022.  

“Marty is a hard inside midfielder that just works, he is a real competitive beast, Micallef said. 

“We love the way he links up through the midfield, he can play inside and outside, and we think he can help take our group to another level inside the contest.”  

After travelling back and forth on the Hume Highway to attend preseason training prior to Christmas, Brennan has now relocated to Geelong and is looking forward to the season ahead. 

“It should be good fun, I can’t wait to get settled in and have some fun at the same time,” he said. 

“Now is probably the perfect time for me to have a crack at the VFL, I’ve matured now and you’re always going to regret not having a go at a higher level, so I thought I’d give it a shot. 

“It makes it very easy to fit into a club when you know a few guys already, there are guys here that I played with and against in the Ovens and Murray. 

“James Saker was the coach for my first two years at Lavington and was the one that got me there and now he’s here which is great.”