Versatile forward Harry Grintell is set to reach 50 games for the Werribee Football Club when he runs out in Saturday’s Round 18 clash with Richmond at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval.

His 16th match of the season will also mark his 37th consecutive appearance for the club, having not missed a game since the 2023 Grand Final.

Grintell joined Werribee ahead of the 2023 season from the GWS Giants VFL program, where he played 21 games in the orange and charcoal after graduating from the Giants Academy.

Grintell’s first appearance in the Big W came in Round 1, 2023, against Brisbane at Brighton Homes Arena, receiving his debut guernsey from Werribee Legend Bruce Montgomery and debuting alongside fellow premiership player Sam Azzi.

Grintell featured in the opening four games before an injury sidelined him mid-season. After regaining form with a handful of games at Grovedale in the Geelong Football League, he returned to Werribee and played nine of the final ten matches to finish the year. He was called up as a late inclusion for the 2023 Grand Final, where he kicked two goals in Werribee’s loss to Gold Coast.

Starting 2024 in strong fashion, Grintell booted six goals across the first four rounds, including Werribee’s opening goal of the season at GMHBA Stadium, and a Goal of the Year contender up in Southport in Round 2.

Midway through the campaign in Round 10, Grintell was shifted onto the wing in a second-half role against former AFL wingman Brandon Ellis in the clash with the Gold Coast Suns. He finished with 16 disposals and six inside 50s in one of Werribee’s most important wins of the home and away season, and that performance cemented his place on the wing for the remainder of the year.

Grintell became one of just six players to feature in every game of the premiership-winning 2024 season and brought up his 50th VFL game in Round 18 against Port Melbourne, sharing the milestone with Angus Hicks.

Now in his third year at the club, the 23-year-old has been a reliable and versatile option, playing forward, back and through the midfield whenever required, leading to career-high 2025 averages across disposals (14.1), marks (5.1), tackles and clearances.

Grintell kicked off the season with over 20 disposals down back in the opening two games, including a career-high 22 touches against Essendon in the side’s first win of the year. Since moving forward in recent weeks, he has kicked his first goals of the season with a two-goal performance against his former side GWS in Round 15 and followed up with a goal in each of the past two matches.

Reflecting on his time at Werribee after last year’s flag, Grintell said:

“I didn't think we’d be going for two flags in two years (when I came down from GWS), but it was a really good effort and a massive shout out to all the Werribee fans and Werribee staff, they are unreal.”

Werribee will be looking to make it two wins in a row as they return home to face Richmond at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval this week. The 1:05pm game still has limited tickets remaining for the pre-game President’s Function, which can be purchased here.

MATCH DETAILS – ROUND 18
Werribee vs Richmond
Saturday, July 26, 1:05pm
Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee

Pre-purchase your tickets to the game via this link.

Werribee will be looking to make it two wins on the bounce as they return home this Saturday.

At Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee will host their penultimate home game of the 2025 season, with the first bounce at 1:05pm.

The home side snapped a five-game losing streak last Sunday and come into the clash in winning form. The reigning premiers saw three more debutants added in the win, taking the season tally to 21, as they produced a strong four-quarter effort at Coburg City Oval to run out 20-point winners.

The result lifted Werribee to 14th on the ladder, coming up against a Richmond side sitting ninth, again, the same position they finished in last season.

Richmond returns from a Round 17 bye, having last played in a 27-point loss to Southport, a match that saw the Tigers feature 17 VFL-listed players.

It will be the first meeting between the two sides in 15 months, with Werribee winning by 21 points in their Round 3 matchup last season.

The first bounce is at 1:05 pm, with the game also streamed live and free on the AFL app and AFL.com.au. Click here to watch the game live.

MATCH DETAILS - ROUND 18
Werribee vs Richmond
Saturday, July 26, 1:05 pm
Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee

Round 18 Match Centre

Watch live at afl.com.au

Werribee returned to the winners’ list at VFL level with an impressive 20-point victory over Coburg away from home, snapping a five-game losing streak. At local level, several Werribee-listed players stood out across their competitions, with four named in their side’s best and a couple making strong returns from injury.

Read how the seven Werribee boys fared in the 16th edition of the Weekly Player Report.

Geelong Football Netball League:

Josh Sanders - Lara
Returning for his first game in a month, Josh Sanders picked up right where he left off and was named in Lara’s best players in the inexperienced side’s 68-point loss to Grovedale. He worked tirelessly to collect 25 disposals, five tackles and two intercept marks in a solid comeback performance from roughly 70% gametime.

Tylar Watts - Leopold
Also returning from a month on the sidelines, Tylar Watts made an impact in tough conditions in Leopold’s low-scoring draw with South Barwon. Splitting his time between ruck and forward, Watts was especially effective in his two quarters as a ruckman, finishing with 16 hitouts and 11 disposals. His work rate around the ground was particularly impressive, shown by his three intercept marks.

Goulburn Valley Football Netball League:

Anthony Depasquale - Kyabram
Anthony Depasquale played a key role in Kyabram’s 120-point demolition of Benalla, splitting his time between deep and high forward. He was involved in a number of scoring chains, and finished with 15 disposals at 80% efficiency, four marks (three contested), and the one goal. A heavy fall in the third quarter slowed him slightly, but he played out the game and looks to have pulled up fine.

Dom Gugliotti - Mooroopna
Despite Mooroopna’s heavy loss to Shepparton Swans, Dom Gugliotti was named in the best players for his side. The rebounding defender gathered 27 disposals at 81% efficiency, pulled in 10 marks (three intercepts) and provided plenty of drive from the back half in a polished performance.

Northern Football Netball League:

Cam Wild - Hurstbridge
Cam Wild delivered one of his best games for the season to help Hurstbridge to a 21-point win over West Preston-Lakeside. Named in the best players, Wild’s pressure, aggression and team-first approach stood out. He finished with 12 disposals, with nine contested, four clearances and four tackles in a physical midfield effort that was celebrated post-game by teammates.

Ballarat Football Netball League:

Rye Penny - Bacchus Marsh
For the second week running, Rye Penny was named among Bacchus Marsh’s best players and pulled down a mark-of-the-year contender in defence. His intercept marking and spoiling were crucial in slowing Darley’s forward launches. Penny finished with 11 disposals, three contested intercept marks and four one-percenters in another strong showing down back.

Isaac Nixon - Bacchus Marsh
Isaac Nixon was kept under close attention in Bacchus Marsh’s 17-point loss to Darley but still competed hard, ending with four tackles up forward and hitting the scoreboard for a goal from his nine disposals, which included eight contested.

Werribee’s 2024 premiership side continues to leave its mark on the AFL, with Zac Banch becoming the fifth player from last year’s grand final team to debut at the elite level.

The 22-year-old pulled on the North Melbourne jumper for the first time in Saturday’s clash with Sydney at the SCG after being selected in this year’s Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

Banch joins Flynn Young, Jack Henderson, Riley Bice, and Aidan Johnson as 2024 Werribee premiership players to make their AFL debuts in 2025, a remarkable achievement for a standalone VFL club.

Banch started the 2025 season in outstanding form for Werribee, kicking consecutive bags of three goals before setting a VFL record with eight goal assists against Frankston. That form translated quickly at Arden Street, with the small forward averaging two goals across five games in North Melbourne’s VFL side before earning his Round  19 AFL debut.

North Melbourne senior coach Alastair Clarkson delivered the news to Banch in front of his teammates on the Thursday. Named as the substitute, he was activated after Callum Coleman-Jones went down with injury and became North Melbourne player number 1073. Banch played three quarters at the highest level in a match that also featured premiership teammate Riley Bice for Sydney.

Flynn Young, drafted two picks after Banch in the mid-season draft, made his AFL debut three weeks earlier in Round 16 after four VFL games for the Blues.

Young also began as the substitute, coming on at Adelaide Oval against Port Adelaide and collecting five touches in his first outing. Werribee captain Dom Brew and Football Manager Kyle Hartigan both flew to Adelaide for the occasion, joining Young in the rooms pre-match as he was presented with his debut guernsey.

After two more games as sub, Young earned full games against Brisbane and Melbourne. His clash with the Demons was a memorable one as he slotted his first AFL goal with a set shot from outside 50, set up by a pass from Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow. It was also Young’s first AFL win, as Carlton came away eight-point victors.

Riley Bice, Aidan Johnson and Jack Henderson all debuted in Round  1.

Bice, the first mature-age player selected in last November’s AFL Draft at pick 41, made an eye-catching debut as Sydney’s sub against Brisbane, racking up 12 disposals and 304 metres gained from just 31 percent game time at the SCG.

Less than 24 hours later, Henderson and Johnson made their AFL debuts in Melbourne’s three-point loss to Greater Western Sydney at the MCG. Around 30 Werribee players, coaches and staff were in the stands for the game, with most making their way into the rooms pre-match to represent the club as the two were presented with their debut guernseys by Demons great David Schwarz. Both Henderson and Johnson made an immediate impact, each booting a goal in their first AFL outing.

Bice earned his first full match the following week against Fremantle at Optus Stadium and immediately had the AFL world talking. He collected 14 disposals, kicked a last-quarter goal and set up another as Sydney snatched a thrilling three-point win. In his next game, Bice produced a performance worthy of Brownlow votes, gathering 26 disposals and 15 marks under the roof at Marvel Stadium in just his third AFL match.

At this stage of the season, Bice has played 15 games, including the recent clash with Banch, while Henderson and Johnson have played five each.

While the departure of this talent has opened the door for a new wave of players, with 21 debutants already blooded in 2025, it has also cemented Werribee’s reputation as a powerhouse stepping stone from local football to the AFL.