North Melbourne Werribee has bounced back from last week's defeat with a dominant 27-point victory over Port Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.

The Roos were able to establish the early ascendency, keeping Port Melbourne scoreless in the first half to set up a 2.3 (15) to 6.6 (42) win at ETU Stadium.

Port Melbourne looked threatening after the main break, kicking two goals shortly after half-time, but the visitors were able to respond with two majors in reply to close the game out.

Skipper Renee Tierney was one of the best afield for the Kangaroos, picking up 16 disposals and six marks as she led her side to victory.

Tierney put the icing on the cake with the sealer late in the final term.

Restricting Port Melbourne to only two goals for the game, the Kangaroos defence built the foundation for a dominant showing. Stella Reid (16 disposals, eight intercepts) was the standout down back, with her intercept marking helping quell Port Melbourne'a second-half charge. Reid was well supported by Bridget Deed (18 disposals, nine intercepts) who impressed with her rebound work.

Nyakoat Dojiok led the way in front of goal, kicking three in the victory, including back-to-back efforts from superb contested marks in the second term. ETU Stadium continues to be a happy hunting ground for the star forward, backing up her four-goal performance in last year's VFLW Grand Final.

The 27-point victory sees North Melbourne Werribee return to the top of the table for the first time since Round 2. The Roos currently sit with a 5-2 record and a whopping 171 per cent.

North Melbourne Werribee will have a week off, before hosting Geelong at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday, June 14. The opening bounce is slated for 2.45pm AEST.

FINAL SCORE:
Port Melbourne: 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.3 (15)
North Melbourne Werribee: 2.1 4.5 4.5 6.6 (42)

GOAL SCORERS:
Port Melbourne: G. Foran (2)
North Melbourne Werribee: N. Dojiok (3), T. Meier, Z. Flanigan, R. Tierney

Following our recent 2024 VFL Premiership success, the Werribee Football Club is excited to announce that our full suite of membership packages are now available for 2025.

2024 will forever be remembered for the drought-breaking Premiership, and in 2025... WE’RE GOING AGAIN. ARE YOU?

Sign up as a member for 2025 via this link.

Werribee is set to unveil its 14th debutant of the 2025 season, with Archer Gardiner to play his first VFL game this Sunday at ETU Stadium.

The 20-year-old is one of two inclusions for the midseason draft departures Flynn Young and Zac Banch, with Brady Wright also returning for his eighth game of the year.

Gardiner, in his first season at Werribee, arrived at the club alongside his twin brother Foster from North Albury, the home club of premiership players Dom Brew and Sam Azzi.

He earns his debut after an impressive start to the season, playing both as an inside midfielder and on the wing. He was a standout in last weekend’s Ovens and Murray interleague win over Goulburn Valley, collecting 27 disposals and finishing with the most clearances on the ground.

Gardiner joined Werribee ahead of 2025 with more than three years of senior football experience, having made his debut for the Hoppers in 2021 at just 16 years of age. Since then, he has played consistently at senior level and earned several individual honours.

In 2022, he was named Best First Year Player at North Albury, and he went on to win the club’s Best Under 21 Player award in both 2023 and 2024.

Speaking ahead of his debut, Werribee’s Football Manager Kyle Hartigan said “We’re really excited for Arch. He’s come down from North Albury, where we’ve had a lot of talent come through, like Dom and Sam.”

Hartigan added, “We’re really looking forward to what he will bring, with plenty of run and carry. He has been performing at a high level, and his outstanding performance in the interleague last week has led to this exciting opportunity.”

Sunday’s match kicks off at 2:05 pm at ETU Stadium, marking Werribee’s second consecutive game on the road following a dominant 51-point win over Sandringham in Round 8.

Werribee enters the Round 10 clash sitting ninth on the ladder and will be looking to improve on their even 4-4 record from the first half of the season.

MATCH DETAILS - ROUND 10
Werribee vs Port Melbourne
Sunday, June 1, 2:05 pm
ETU Stadium, Port Melbourne

Following our recent 2024 VFL Premiership success, the Werribee Football Club is excited to announce that our full suite of membership packages are available for 2025.

2024 will forever be remembered for the drought-breaking Premiership, and in 2025... WE’RE GOING AGAIN. ARE YOU?

Sign up as a member for 2025 via this link.

North Melbourne Werribee has locked in its side for its Round 7 clash with second-placed Port Melbourne.

Former Bomber and Bulldog Mia-Rae Clifford comes in for her Kangaroos debut and will start at half-forward alongside Tahlia Meier and Nyakoat Dojiok.

Joining Clifford in the team are Reese Sutton and 2024 premiership player Georgia Nicholas.

Gen Lawson-Tavan (unavailable) comes out of the line-up this week, while Courtney Ugle and Jemmika Douglas have been omitted.

The Roos will be looking to bounce back from their Round 6 loss to Collingwood at Victoria Park, while Port Melbourne will want to stretch their unbeaten run to five games in a row.

Werribee fans are encouraged to get to ETU Stadium early on Sunday to catch the VFLW side in action, kicking off the double header against Port Melbourne.

MATCH DETAILS - ROUND 7
PORT Melbourne vs North Melbourne Werribee Kangaroos
Sunday, June 1, 11:05am
ETU Stadium, Port Melbourne

Following our recent 2024 VFL Premiership success, the Werribee Football Club is excited to announce that our full suite of membership packages are available for 2025.

2024 will forever be remembered for the drought-breaking Premiership, and in 2025... WE’RE GOING AGAIN. ARE YOU?

Sign up as a member for 2025 via this link.

The Werribee Football Clubs reputation as the standout development program in the VFL was enhanced with two more players making the leap to AFL level via the 2025 mid-season draft.

Small forwards Zac Banch and Flynn Young AFL dreams became reality being selected by North Melbourne and Carlton, respectively.

Reflecting on the night, Werribee CEO Mark Penaluna said, “We are delighted for Flynn and Zac on joining Carlton and North Melbourne. Both are ready for the challenge and are wonderful, respectful young men.”

“From a club perspective,” Penaluna added, “it is a credit to Jimmy Allan, our coaches and Football Manager Kyle Hartigan and his staff. Indeed all elements of the Werribee Football Club, from the board, sponsors and volunteers help create an environment where people are given every opportunity to reach their potential.”

Banch and Young become the fifth and sixth members of Werribee’s 2024 premiership team now on AFL lists, joining Riley Bice and Aidan Johnson (national draft), and Jack Henderson (SSP selection).

Zac Banch was the first of the duo taken, selected by North Melbourne with pick two.

2025 marked Banch’s second season at Werribee after arriving from Williamstown.

He began 2024 with three games for local WFNL club Point Cook Centrals before making his VFL debut in Round 8 against Collingwood, where he kicked two goals. He held his spot for the rest of the year and was one of just four players to be named Werribee’s Totally Workwear Player of the Round twice, after standout performances against Sydney (three goals) and Coburg (four goals). He impressed in finals too, named among the best in the Qualifying Final and kicking a long-range goal early in the Grand Final.

Banch carried that momentum into 2025, kicking nine goals from eight games and leading the VFL in goal assists. He also set a new league record for score assists in a single game, registering eight in a win over Frankston.

North Melbourne Recruiting Manager Will Thursfield speaking on the Banch selection said “He’s very clean, he's very crafty, he doesn't need much time to make his decisions, and he's a very nice kick of the footy.

"He’s an impact player. Half his touches have ended up in scores, so he's damaging and is very good defensively too.

"He's honest, he'll step in, he'll tackle, he's a tough little man, and he's a pretty infectious sort of personality."

Young was selected two picks later by Carlton at pick four. After managing just two VFL appearances across 2022 and 2023, his emergence in 2024 was a remarkable rise.

Young began the 2024 season playing locally with Newtown & Chilwell, where he kicked 21 goals in three matches to lead the GFNL goalkicking. Recalled to Werribee in Round 6, he impressed with two goals, 15 disposals and six marks against Carlton and went on to play every game for the remainder of the season. He averaged over 13 disposals and five marks, and also stood up in finals, kicking the opening goal in both the Qualifying Final and Grand Final.

Like Banch, Young continued his rise in 2025, with the half-forward booting 12 goals, whilst averaging a career-best 16 disposals and seven marks from his eight games.

Carlton Head of List Management Nick Austin said Young’s incredible rise to AFL football in the space of 18 months was built off hard work.

“Flynn has gone from strength to strength in the last little while and we couldn’t be happier to bring him to the football club,” Austin said.

“At 23 years of age, it hasn’t been the conventional path to the elite level for Flynn - what he has shown in his time at Werribee is his appetite for getting the best out of himself and leaving no stone unturned.

“He’s produced some big moments in some big finals at VFL level, and we think he offers something different as a dynamic player in the front half.”

Following our recent 2024 VFL Premiership success, the Werribee Football Club is excited to announce that our full suite of membership packages are now available for 2025.

2024 will forever be remembered for the drought-breaking Premiership, and in 2025... WE’RE GOING AGAIN. ARE YOU?

Sign up as a member for 2025 via this link.