“Boys, we are all getting on and from my experience in football the biggest thing I can pass on to you is that too much emphasis is put on premierships and individual awards. The best thing about the game is the people you meet along the way. Make the most of those relationships, because they are what matters most.” Donald McDonald

These are perhaps the most intelligent words our former coach has ever said! It was part of a speech he made to the Werribee players when Mick Barlow took over as coach and he hit the nail on the head.

Perhaps it’s because we are getting older and starting to sense our own mortality but reunions do become more special as time quickly advances.

This wasn’t the case early on for me. I was a bit reticent thinking no one would remember me or I wouldn’t remember their names but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Once you hear a characteristic laugh or see someone’s familiar face, suddenly the dormant chemicals in your brain kick off again. It’s instant recognition and the ‘man-hugs’ begin.

I think we all forget just how much time we invested at the footy club. We all worked or studied before putting in long hours training. There wasn’t much science to the training. The only philosophy was, ‘train longer and harder and we’ll get better’.

I can’t remember any bad relationships. Maybe there was the odd undesirable who came through the club over the six years I was there, but on the whole Werribee FC was a great place to play and have fun.

So many great characters came through the doors. Werribee is a destination club, especially now with its facilities but in the ‘olden days’ when the club had to compete in the VFA first division, the club had to source players outside of town from 1989-on in order to be competitive. Geographically this could prove to be challenging for some.

The boys from Geelong such as Nick Walsh, Greg Chapman and Stephen Sells weren’t just excellent players but they were often the last to leave the social club. They left a legacy of behaviours that decades of future Geelong players have been happy to replicate!

Other players who drove long distances and fell in love with the club were Robbie Morris, Richard Geary and the ‘Beanbag With Legs’, Frank Lesiputty. You’ll still see Robbie and Richard at reunions having driven from Deniliquin and Yarrawonga respectively.

You never know who you’ll bump into at a PPO day. For instance I had a strange interaction at the 2019 event. We set up at the Hungry Jacks end of AAO and I scored some Furphy cartons from a mate to raffle off.

As the players came in, I feverishly wrote down their names on raffle tickets. I had my head down and asked the next player their name. “Justin Bailey”, came the reply. I stopped in my tracks immediately, looked up and it all came flooding back to me.

“You knocked me out just before half time in the ’93 Grand Final didn’t you?” I asked. “Yep, that’s right.” “Nice to meet you” I said. “Nice to meet you too” he replied. A very VFA exchange! Justin came across to Werribee from Port Melbourne in the mid 90’s.

The 2024 Past Players will be this Sunday at AAO versus North Melbourne. There is a Presidents Luncheon available for $50 at 10am with guest speaker Mick Barlow. From 12pm the PPO function will be on the hill. $10 gets you a stubbie holder and a drink. Whatever happens, you’re guaranteed a gut laugh or two.

Michael McMaster has organised a bus leaving Kardinia Café at 9am. BYO drinks for the trip. A big thanks to Mixer, Adam Taylor and Zach Thornton for setting up the day this year.

Another event to put in your diaries is The Big Freeze Day on Saturday June 8 versus Frankston. The game starts at 2.05pm but there will be fundraising activities for Fight MND beforehand. Keep an eye on the club’s website as more details come to hand.

Neale Daniher played a huge part in his one year at Werribee, helping the club to reach its first ever grand final in 1991. Despite two dodgy knees and being dragged out of retirement, he was an inspirational player on the ground and a gentleman off it.

Past players Michael McMaster and Daryl Fenton along with former coach Leon Harris have been conducting lunches for Neil since he returned from Perth with his diagnosis of MND.

They have been hugely successful and Neale has always been there with that dry sense of humour.

I remember one lunch when Leon Harris proudly announced to us that he came runner up in the VFL’s Best First Year Player award of (I think) 1979. Someone asked who came first.

Leon pointed to Neale, who paused and with the timing of a seasoned comedian said, “Big gap between first and second.”

You can grab your Big Freeze 10^th Anniversary beanie at any Coles or Bunnings and join the fun on the 8^th of June at AAO. Go Tiges!

Following the bittersweet chapter of our history that was the 2023 season, the story continues and this year we want you back to help us achieve a different ending.

Our board, our coaches, our players and our staff are ready to embark on a new season, united in our mission for the ultimate success. The question remains: Are you with us?

Sign up as a member for 2024 via INTIX here.

It was another good weekend for Werribee, with a 52-point win at VFL level, and a number of Werribee players stacking up big performances amongst the 14 that played at local level across six different leagues.
Geelong Football Netball League:

Matthew Keast – St Mary’s
Keast had a huge game in a big win over Lara. He had 40 disposals, at an effective 75%, which included 17 contested possessions. Keast also stuffed the stat sheet with 12 marks, eight clearances, eight inside 50s and a goal.

Gennaro Bove – Newtown & Chilwell
Played a good game up forward in a heartbreaking loss to Bell Park. Bove found 15 disposals, including eight contested possessions, laid six tackles and kicked a goal.

Charlie Byrne – Newtown & Chilwell
Continues his good form for Newtown this season. In the one-point loss to Bell Park, Byrne picked up 26 disposals, going at an extremely effective 85%, which included 18 kicks, and took five marks.

Olivier Northam – St Joseph’s
Continues to impress for St Joseph’s since signing for Werribee for 2024. From the ruck, Northam picked up 21 disposals, with 13 contested and eight clearances. He also won 33 hitouts, went inside 50 five times and laid six tackles to be named in the best in a five-point win over Leopold.

Emmanuel Ajang – Geelong West Giants
Another accumulative game for Ajang for the Giants. He gathered 26 disposals, with ten contested, had five marks, five clearances, six inside-50s, seven tackles and hit the scoreboard with a goal to again be named in the best players.

Essendon District Football League:

Cam McLeod – Aberfeldie
McLeod had his best game of the season to date in a win over Deer Park. He found 20 disposals, where he went at 75% efficiency, took seven marks, including three intercept, and had four inside 50s. 

Raymond Murphy – Greenvale
Murphy had a good start to the game however a leg injury ended his day early. Murphy ended with seven disposals, three marks, two inside 50’s and two tackles in limited gametime, and was setting himself up for a big game. 

Reuben William – Keilor
Putting together a good patch for Keilor, and in a big win over Pascoe Vale William had 16 disposals off half back, went at 75% efficiency, and defended well, with five 1%’ers. 

Victorian Amateur Football Association:

Sam Conway – University Blacks
Staffed the stat sheet in a tight loss to Old Melburnians. While also strong in the ruck, Conway found 16 disposals, with 14 being contested and eight clearances, and laid 10 tackles to end with 141 ranking points. 

Zayne Galea – Williamstown CYMS
Played his best game of the season to help the CY’s to their first win of 2024. Was very good defensively, not losing a 1v1 all match, and didn’t have a problem finding the footy offensively, finding 17 disposals at an effective 76%, and taking four marks.

Ballarat Football Netball League:

Joel Cadman – Darley
Cadman was named in the best for Darley in their tight loss to Sunbury. Werribee’s new recruit found 20 disposals in the forward line, took eight marks included five contested grabs, and was damaging on the scoreboard with two goals.

Jamie Quick – North Ballarat
Was named in the best and had his best game of the season to date. Quick kicked a game-high six goals in a win over Sebastopol. The forward also gathered 18 disposals, with 14 contested, and took three marks.

Bellarine Football Netball League:

Ed McCoy – Torquay Tigers
McCoy dominated in the ruck in the Tigers’ win over Queenscliff. Won 47 hitouts, with seven to advantage, while also winning four clearances. 

Northern Football Netball League:

Darcy Bennett – Banyule
In his second game back from injury Bennett’s Banyule had a four-goal win over Eltham. Bennett split forward and ruck time, playing well in the ruck, while gathering nine disposals, with multiple clearances and inside 50s.

Following the bittersweet chapter of our history that was the 2023 season, the story continues and this year we want you back to help us achieve a different ending.

Our board, our coaches, our players and our staff are ready to embark on a new season, united in our mission for the ultimate success. The question remains: Are you with us?

Sign up as a member for 2024 via INTIX here.

Following the bittersweet chapter of our history that was the 2023 season, the story continues and this year we want you back to help us achieve a different ending.

Our board, our coaches, our players and our staff are ready to embark on a new season, united in our mission for the ultimate success. The question remains: Are you with us?

Sign up as a member for 2024 via INTIX here.

With a bye in the VFL Werribee had 19 players play at local level across seven leagues this past weekend. In this third edition of the Weekly Player Report for the season check out the big performances from our players.

Western Football Netball League: 

Michael Selsby – Yarraville Seddon Eagles
Selsby continued his strong start to the season for the Eagles with a big game in the midfield. In a win over Parkside Selsby picked up 28 disposals, which included 12 contested possessions, six clearances and six inside 50s.

Sam Azzi – Yarraville Seddon Eagles
Azzi played his best game for the Eagles and was named in the best. Played a great defensive game as well as gathering 25 disposals, nine marks which included three intercept grabs, and a goal from the back line.

Zac Banch – Point Cook Centrals
Was named best on ground and tried to will the Sharks over the line as they narrowly went down to Hoppers Crossing. Had 31 disposals at an efficient 87%. Of his 31, 17 were contested possessions. Banch also took seven marks, won eight clearances, laid six tackles, went inside 50 eight times and kicked a goal.

Geelong Football Netball League: 

Flynn Young – Newtown & Chilwell
Young kept up his goal-kicking form after earning himself a recall to Werribee’s side in our round 6 win over Carlton. In a win for Newtown, Young kicked five goals, while collecting 22 disposals and taking nine marks, and was named in the best.

Gennaro Bove – Newtown & Chilwell
Had his best performance of the season thus far as he puts together a good run of games. Bove had 22 disposals, which included 12 contested possessions, and kicked two goals.

Charlie Byrne – Newtown & Chilwell
Continued his good form after earning himself a VFL debut last game against Carlton. Found lots of the ball and used it well in Newtown’s win. Byrne ended the day with 30 disposals, at an efficient 87%, and took nine marks.

Connor Thar – Lara
Had a big impact in the midfield in restricted gametime in Lara’s loss to Newtown. Recording 22 disposals, nine clearances and six inside 50s.

Matthew Keast – St Mary’s
Has strung together two great games for St Mary’s playing as an inside midfielder. Stuffed the stat sheet, picking up 23 disposals at 74%, 10 contested possessions, five clearances, seven inside 50s and eight tackles. Keast was also able to impact the scoreboard, kicking two goals from the midfield.

Emmanuel Ajang – Geelong West Giants
Ajang was named best-on-ground in a big win over St Albans, his 31 disposals at an extremely efficient 90%. He also kicked two goals, took nine marks, and had nine inside 50s.

Olivier Northam – St Joseph’s
Was also named best-on for St Joseph’s in their win over Bell Park. The ruckman had a great game both in the air and ground level, winning 36 hitouts and amassing 25 disposals. Of these 25 disposals 19 were contested, 11 clearances and eight inside 50s.

Eastern Football Netball League: 

Corey Preston – East Ringwood
Showed his class and was named in the best for the Kangaroos playing a mix of midfield and forward. Found 25 disposals and used the ball well, going at 84% efficiency. Preston also kicked a goal, had six marks, seven clearances and five tackles.

Essendon District Football League: 

Stefan Radovanovic – Keilor
Played his first game for Keilor of the 2024 season and used the ball well off half-back in a win. Was also good defensively with three intercept marks amongst his four marks and three tackles.

Reuben William – Keilor
William had a strong game playing alongside Radovanovic in Keilor’s win on the weekend. Used the ball at 83%, took five intercept marks and laid five tackles. William is enoying a good patch of form for Keilor.

Cam McLeod – Aberfeldie
McLeod worked his way into the game in the backline. While Aberfeldie went down, McLeod’s ball use was great for his 12 disposal and four mark game.

Northern Football Netball League: 

Darcy Bennett – Banyule
Played his first game of football since injuring his hamstring in the final practice match against Footscray and made a solid return. Played a split between forward and ruck in Banyule’s ten-point win over Greensborough, where he showed his presence up forward with multiple contested marks and was strong in the ruck.

Victorian Amateur Football Association: 

Sam Conway – University Blacks
Conway played a strong game in the ruck in a 10-point loss to Collegians. Around the ground, Conway picked up 16 disposals, which included 13 contested, and five clearances, making his presence felt.

Zayne Galea – Williamstown CYMS
Played well as the deepest defender for the CY’s. Galea also used the ball very efficiently going at 90% with his 10 disposals, and had four 1%’ers. It was a strong effort in another loss for Williamstown CYMS.

Ovens & Murray Football Netball League: 

Hamish Gilmore – Albury Tigers
Gilmore continues to string together strong defensive performances. In a tight loss to Wodonga, Gilmore was also able to find 11 disposals, in which he went at 73% in the backline.

Following the bittersweet chapter of our history that was the 2023 season, the story continues and this year we want you back to help us achieve a different ending.

Our board, our coaches, our players and our staff are ready to embark on a new season, united in our mission for the ultimate success. The question remains: Are you with us?

Sign up as a member for 2024 via INTIX here.