Werribee got their tenth win in a row in the VFL on Saturday, and at the same time had eleven players take the field in local competitions with several players returning from injury and a number of others producing notable performances. Read how they performed in this week's Weekly Player Report:

Geelong Football Netball League:

Mitch Chafer - Grovedale
Chafer found plenty of the footy as Grovedale’s comeback fell short to Geelong West in trying conditions. The forward had 20 disposals, with a massive 19 of them being contested, and laid seven tackles. 

Emmanuel Ajang - Geelong West
Was best on ground to half-time until an ankle injury prematurely ended his afternoon, as the Giants defeated Chafer’s Grovedale by 20 points. Ajang kicked two goals from the midfield, to go with 14 disposals and four clearances. 

Charlie Byrne - Newtown & Chilwell
Was named in the best as Newtown fell comfortably to top four side Colac. Byrne defended well and his pressure was high all game, while also having an impact offensively. He ended with 19 disposals, eight rebound 50s and three marks, including two intercept grabs. 

Matthew Keast - St Mary’s
Returned from injury for his first game since Round 7 and made an instant impact. As St. Mary’s came from five goals behind to defeat Leopold, Keast had 23 disposals through the midfield, which included 14 contested possessions, five clearances, six inside 50s and laid four tackles.

Ballarat Football Netball League: 

Joel Cadman - Darley
In challenging conditions in Ballarat, Darley fell to East Point by 50 points, with 25 fewer scoring shots. Despite a tough day up forward, Cadman managed to stay involved, securing 11 contested possessions, multiple marks, inside 50s, and tackles.

Essendon District Football League: 

Cam McLeod - Aberfeldie
McLeod didn’t waste a disposal as Aberfeldie defeated Deer Park to jump into the top four. The half-back had 12 disposals, at an impressive 100% efficiency, while also finishing with six marks and three tackles in a strong performance.  

Wardell Lual - Airport West
Wardell Lual played his first seniors game for Airport West, where he made a significant impact down back in their crucial win over Essendon Doutta Stars. Playing alongside Werribee legend Matt Hanson, Lual was tasked with a key defensive role where he came out on top. He also made a significant offensive contribution, showcasing his run and carry off the back line and using the ball efficiently. 

Reuben William - Keilor 
Williams had a good game off half-back as the top of the table Keilor continue their undefeated run in 2024. Having to play as a key defender, William contested and defended well while winning 16 disposals himself, which included 9 contested possessions and three intercept marks.

Ovens & Murray Football Netball League: 

Hamish Gilmore - Albury
Gilmore played his second game back after missing multiple months of footy due to injury. In a narrow loss to long-time rivals North Albury, the key defender managed 10 disposals with an effective 70% disposal efficiency.

Victorian Amateur Football Association: 

Zayne Galea - Williamstown CYMS
Galea played as a key forward as the CY’s went down comfortably to De La Salle. Despite tough conditions for key forwards, he consistently provided a strong contest throughout the day. He secured multiple marks inside the 50 and maintained good pressure with two tackles in the forward line.

Hampden Football Netball League:

Jay Rantall - South Warrnambool
Stacked up another performance for South Warrnambool, playing in a low scoring affair where the Roosters came from behind to defeat Koroit 2.5.17 to 2.8.20. His effort in the wet was outstanding and the midfielder found plenty of the footy to be once be named in the best.

Werribee celebrated Jack Henderson’s 100th game in style with a 54-point victory over the Northern Bullants at home.

In the third of three consecutive games at Avalon Airport Oval, Jimmy Allan’s men handled the wet conditions best, leading from start to finish to claim a 15.13 (103) to 7.7 (49) win. 

Despite the challenging weather, key forward Hudson Garoni (five goals) and Aidan Johnson (three goals) were outstanding as Werribee piled on 15 goals.

Stand-in captain Dom Brew led the way in the midfield as Werribee were on top around the contest all day. The inside midfielder had 32 disposals, including a career high 28 contested possessions, 16 clearances and laid nine tackles. Brew was well supported by Daly Andrews who kept the VFL’s leading ball winner, Jean-Luc Velissaris, to just the 18 disposals while finding 16 disposals and laying four tackles himself. 

In his return game Jay Dahlhaus wasted no time making an impact, scoring a crumbing goal within the opening two minutes giving Werribee the perfect start. This ignited a seven-goal to zero first quarter. 

The trio of tall forwards, Aidan Johnson, Kobe Annand and Hudson Garoni, all converted set shots in the opening 12 minutes. Jack Riding, who continues to show his improvement then laid another forward fifty tackle to win a holding the ball free kick and convert his 13th goal of the season.

Late goals from Jay Dahlhaus and Aidan Johnson extended Werribee's lead to 45-0 by the first break. Johnso continued his hot streak, marking his fourth consecutive game with multiple goals, since returning from a bicep injury. 

In the second quarter as the rain began to kick the Bullants with the wind advantage began to gain the upper hand. Their inside midfielder Caleb Franks set the stage for the Bullants to take control. While they restricted Werribee to just five inside 50s, Werribee’s defence held strong, conceding only three goals, allowing them to maintain a 25-point lead at half-time.

Dom Brew had a massive 19 disposals and eight clearances at the main break, while defenders Bior Malual (13 disposals, five marks) and Jesse Clark (11 disposals, six marks) were also finding plenty of the footy.

Werribee’s leading goalkicker for the season Hudson Garoni took over in the third quarter, kicking all three of his side’s majors for the term. A three-goal to one quarter saw the Tigers extend their lead to 43 points at the last break. 

Werribee managed the conditions far better in the final quarter, outscoring the Bullants with five goals to three despite kicking against the wind.

Jay Dahlhaus snapped his third goal within the opening minute, followed a few minutes later by Jack Henderson marking 45 metres out. The milestone man kicked truly to cap off the occasion with a goal prompting all 17 Werribee players on the field to flood him in celebration.

The goals continued to flow as Aidan Johnson kicked his third, earning him the Totally Workwear Player of the Round. The in-form key forward took seven marks, making it look easy in the wet conditions, and had nine score involvements to complement his three majors.

Hudson Garoni followed up with his fifth goal of the day and is now tied for first place in the Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal standings. With nine goals in his last two outings, he has reached 36 goals for the season.

Finally, Jay Dahlhaus booted our final goal of the day, and his fourth for the afternoon to see us run out the game as 54-point winners. 

It’s our second last home game of season and we host the Northern Bullants at Avalon Airport Oval this Saturday.

Werribee are in red hot form coming into the clash gunning for our tenth win in a row when we run out for the 2:05 clash on Saturday.

Northern Bullants are currently 21st on the ladder but have already equalled their wins tally from the whole 2023 season. Last weekend the Bullants put in a valiant effort but ultimately fell to wildcard-placed Frankston by 28 points.

This Round 17 outing has the added attraction as the club celebrates its second 100 game milestone in two weeks. Following Louis Pinnuck’s 100th game Jack Henderson will become the latest centurion on Saturday. The durable former Geelong Falcon debuted in Round 1, 2018 and since has played 99 of a possible 100 games. Henderson has taken his game to a new level this season following the departure of veteran midfielders Tom Gribble, Matt Hanson and Shaun Mannagh. His consistency saw him rewarded with selection in the Smithy’s VFL representative team as the Big V returned to state of origin footy against the SANFL earlier this year. 

Additionally this weekend will feature the annual WFC Ladies Day, complete with a pre-game luncheon, guest speakers, and more. 

GAME DAY DETAILS 

Gates open from 12:30pm. 2024 members have free entry. Entry for non-members is $10 for adults and concession $5. Kids under 16 are free.

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

MATCH DETAILS – ROUND 17
Werribee vs Northern Bullants
Saturday, July 20, 2:05pm
Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee

Round 17 Match Centre.

Watch live at afl.com.au

As Werribee run out to play the Northern Bullants this Saturday star midfielder Jack Henderson will become the second Werribee player in two weeks to reach 100 club games. 

The 100 game milestone and Werribee life membership awaits the durable midfielder who has played 99 of 100 possible games since his VFL debut.

Henderson has taken his game to another level this season following the departure of veteran on-ballers Tom Gribble, Matt Hanson and Shaun Mannagh. Henderson is averaging 23 disposals, six tackles and five clearances in the midfield, and has kicked 10 goals. Henderson’s consistency was  rewarded with selection in the Smithy’s VFL representative team as the Big V returned to state of origin footy against the SANFL earlier this year. 

Henderson signed for Werribee in 2018 the club’s first standalone season since 1999. A Geelong Falcons’ graduate, Henderson was originally from the New South Wales country town of Blighty and a junior with Deniliquin before moving south to attend Geelong College, where he won the school’s football best-and-fairest award. 

Henderson's first coach John Lamont was impressed during his first pre-season with the club stating "He’s a good kick, has good speed, and finished in the [Falcons] top-10 in the best and fairest in a premiership year, so we think he can have a positive impact in 2018." Consequently the young defender was awarded his VFL debut right away playing in Round 1 against Geelong. 

Playing as a lockdown defender in his VFL debut Henderon was matched against Geelong’s Gryan Miers in the Easter game at Torquay. He was named in Werribee’s best players, finishing with an efficient 11 disposals, five marks and five tackles. In his opening four games Henderson was also given the duties of marking AFL talent in Shai Bolton and Lachie Schultz, with the defender keeping Bolton goalless and restricting him to just eight touches in a stellar defensive performance that earned Henderson best-on-ground honours. 

His debut season was capped off by Henderson being awarded best first year player for Werrribee and playing all 18 games.

In 2019 coach Mark Williams moved Henderson forward, where he made an immediate impact, kicking four goals in Round 1 as Werribee won against North Melbourne. Henderson carried that goal kicking form throughout the season ending with 24 goals and named in the VFL Team of the Year. 

In 2020 with the VFL paused with COVID lockdown, Henderson took off to South Australia where he played eight matches for the SANFL's Sturt alongside his Werribee teammate Darcy Bennett. With the resumption of VFL football in 2021 he returned to Werribee and was the youngest inductee into the leadership group at the age of 21. It also saw his first exposure to midfield time, showcasing his speed and loose-ball gets and capped off the campaign with a third placed finish in the club best-and-fairest. 

Henderson has continued to feature in Werribee's leadership group each season from 2021 onwards. His consistency on the field has resulted in top-10 finishes in the club's best-and-fairest awards during those years. Additionally, in 2023, he was honoured with the Coaches Award for his outstanding contributions.

Senior coach Jimmy Allan spoke of Henderson’s character ahead of his milestone game; “Jack is a heart and soul player who has earned a great deal of respect at our football club. His work rate, courage, football nous and skill level make him a dream to play with and coach”.