On April 6, the VFL State Team will play a SANFL State Team in a traditional interstate clash in Glenelg.

It’s no surprise that eight Werribee players, the most of any VFL team, have been selected to train for a spot. Dom Brew, Nathan Cooper, Kye Declase, Hudson Garoni, Nick Hayes, Jack Henderson, Sam Paea, and Luis Pinnuck will all be pushing for selection, and we wish them well.

The club asked if I could write a piece on state footy from a personal perspective. Unfortunately, the closest I got to a VFA Rep game was pre-season 1994 versus the Northern Territory at Victoria Park.

I made the initial squad, but the coach Bernie Sheehy left me out as he thought I was too old and slow. He knew me too well from his three years as an assistant coach at Werribee and believed quite rightly that I had no hope of catching the indigenous boys in the NT side.

I did have some experience some ten years prior whilst in the army based two hours west of Brisbane and playing footy for Coorparoo in the QAFL competition.

I was in my early 20s and weighing in at a lithe 72kg, I played in three games for Qld, versus Collingwood, NSW, and Fitzroy. It was a huge thrill, but I remember feeling a bit overawed playing Fitzroy. 

The legendary Bernie ‘Superboot’ Quinlan kicked six before half time as Fitzroy systematically destroyed us. It was his sixth goal that I remember most.

55m out on his non-preferred left, he kicked the goal around the corner post high, like shelling peas. Stunned at the man’s enormous skill, I momentarily went from a participant in the game to a spectator and warmly applauded his achievement from the centre of the ground. 

As I walked back into the forward line to take up position for the next centre bounce, the runner came out and said, “the coach would appreciate it if you wouldn’t applaud the opposition goals…thanks”.

To get a real sense of what it’s like to wear the Big V, I’ve caught up with former Werribee champion and Tom Gribble’s uncle, Stephen Sells. I asked ‘Sellsy’ a few questions regarding his time in the Big V during the late 80’s.

IW – When did you represent the Big V?
SS – 1988. Both myself and Greg Hitch who was a fine player were selected from when we were still in Division 2.

IW – Who did you play and where?
SS – Tassie at Bellerive Oval, now Blundstone Arena.

IW – How did it feel to be selected?
SS - After the initial surprise it was very exciting. I felt honoured and humbled to be given the opportunity to represent the VFA and our Club, being part of such a wonderful experience, alongside a terrific coaching group, talented footballers, and fantastic bunch of blokes whom I had great respect for. I missed the following year due to injury and would have loved to be part of that as it was against the WAFL @ Subiaco Oval where I had played just a few years earlier in a premiership with ‘Subi’ in 1986.

IW - What was it like to train with your regular opponents?
SS - Good question however being in Div. 2 we did not play against them that year but did in subsequent years when we were elevated to Div. 1. I really enjoyed training with and getting to know my opponents, eventually that is after the initial sessions when I didn’t know what to expect, given they were opponents who we mostly respect but we like to beat right? competitive all the way!! There were some big names amongst them as there always is in each era, so I felt humbled again to be a part of the squad. It became more comfortable as training progressed & looked forward to each session as a result. You can learn so much in that environment and from those around you when you come together like that.

IW - How did the game compare with a normal home and away game?
SS – It was certainly another level. A lot of hype & intensity with so much pride on the line wanting to serve your league, club & all those involved to the very best of your ability & not let anyone down.

IW - What was the result?
SS - We unfortunately went down on the day by around 20 odd points I think which was extremely disappointing. We gave our all, but the Tassie Devils proved too good and handled the inglorious conditions much better than us. Hopped off the plane and it felt about 15 degrees colder than where we came from and it was worse when we hit the ground, rain, sleet, wind, bloody freezing but we knew what to expect so no excuses. Then on top of that the parochial Taswegian crowd of course!

IW - Any standout memories from the experience?
SS - To be coached by the legendary Terry Wheeler was an absolute highlight. What a motivator he was. A player’s man who you could see would have bought the best out of you every time. He instilled much belief & confidence. I would love to have played under him. You have to ask others who regularly played under him about their experience but for that one and only match had me jumping out of my skin! It wasn’t one of my better games. I gave it my all as did the whole team and we never stopped trying but was a real slog, stop/start, re scrimmages, packs, etc., with rarely any flow, given the conditions. To have played alongside the late, great Barry Round (what a wonderful man he was) and the like was a real highlight. I could mention each player individually, they were amazing both on & off the park and made you feel extremely welcome and a big part of the whole experience. As stated earlier I felt most humbled to be part of this whole group & represent all parties concerned. We went back to the Clarence Clubrooms who hosted us with Billy Picken the coach at the time. They were fantastic! Another great memory was the bond we all formed. Sharing some quality time with these guys, although beaten & disappointed we didn’t achieve the result we were after, we still had some fun together. I was fortunate to share a room with Willy’s Tony Pastore. What a ripping bloke & brilliant footballer, as they all were!!As we well know the game, we all love brings us together and forms many friendships, connections along the way, some lifelong, others in that window of time…. you cannot buy that camaraderie & mateship. Never forgotten - Forever treasured!!

IW – Thanks heaps ‘Sellsy’ and we look forward to catching up with you as always in season 2024.

To all the Tigers who have been selected in the squad for the SA game, we wish you all the best. Hopefully these interstate tussles can become a regular fixture as they once were. Go the Vics and Go the Tiges!

After a convincing Round 1 victory, Werribee now shifts the focus up north, with a trip to Southport for Round 2.

Following a record-breaking season in 2023, Werribee got their season off to an ideal start with a 53-point victory over Geelong at GMHBA Stadium and will be looking to keep the ball rolling this Saturday at Fankhauser Reserve.

Werribee will be looking for a repeat of last season’s trip to Southport, where we ran away as 23-point winners in Round 3.

Then Sharks also got their season off to a good start, with a 46-point win over Port Melbourne at home. 

This match is Werribee's final of two away matches to begin the season, returning to Avalon Airport Oval on April 13 for a Round 3 matchup against Richmond, with a big home crowd anticipated for our first home game of 2024. 

The match will be streamed, live and free, on afl.com.au and the AFL Live Official App for Werribee fans at home, with the first bounce at 1:05PM AEDT.

MATCH DETAILS – ROUND 2
Werribee vs Southport Sharks
Saturday, March 30, 1:05PM AEDT
Fankhauser Reserve, Southport

Round 2 Match Centre

Watch live at afl.com.au

Werribee made it a successful trip north to Southport, with a three-point victory over the Sharks.

At Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday, in hot and humid conditions, Werribee overcame a three-quarter time deficit to defeat Southport, 8.11 (59) to 9.8 (62). 

After Nick Coughlan won the toss for the second week running, Werribee kicked with the breeze and got off to a fast start to take a 24-point lead after the first quarter. Sam Paea and Harry Grintell, who snapped a goal of the year contender from the boundary, each kicked two first quarter goals. 

A five goal unanswered second term gave Southport an eight-point lead at half time. Veterans Dom Brew, fresh off the announcement of being the Big V captain, and Nick Hayes were both leading the way with 14 disposals a piece at the main break.

Southport kicked the first goal of the third quarter to take a game-high 15-point lead midway through the third quarter, however a running Jack Riding major from the 50-metre arc, and a late Jay Dahlhaus crumbing goal closed it to a four-point margin at three-quarter time. 

After missing a set shot several minutes earlier, Hudson Garoni converted a set shot from a big contested mark to take the lead five minutes into the last quarter. Werribee held the lead for eight minutes before a Wylie Buzza goal for Southport gave the Sharks a three-point advantage midway through the term. In his club debut, Angus Hicks, former Richmond VFL vice-captain, caught Jesse Joyce holding the ball in the forward 50 and converted the clutch set shot to give Werribee back the lead as it reached time-on in the last quarter. Huge defensive moments when defending the lead from the Hicks goal onwards, which included crunching tackles from Bior Malual and Nick Coughlan, a Jay Dahlhaus courageous mark and a Jesse Clark contested grab, allowed Werribee to hold on to a three-point victory, despite kicking against the wind in the last quarter.

For the second week running Dom Brew was Werribee’s leading disposal winner, with 30 touches, along with 10 tackles and 9 clearances. Nick Hayes stood tall with 28 disposals and 11 marks, while Jack Riding kept up his pre-season form with 21 disposals, 11 marks and a goal off half back.

FINAL SCORE
Southport 1.2 6.5 7.8 8.11 (59)
Werribee 5.2 5.3 7.4 9.8 (62) 

GOALS
Southport: W. Buzza 3, B. Woodcock, A. Hall, Z. Foot, H. Dixon, R. Banks-Smith
Werribee: H. Grintell 2, S. Paea 2, H. Garoni 2, J. Riding, A. Hicks, J. Dahlhaus 

BEST
Werribee: N. Cooper, N. Hayes, D. Brew, H. Garoni, S. Conway, S. Paea

PHOTO GALLERY - VIEW 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.

Werribee Football Club’s tough, inside midfielder, Dom Brew has been named captain of the Smithy’s VFL representative team.

Brew will lead the Big V as the VFL does battle with their counterparts from the South Australian Football League in a rivalry clash taking place during Gather Round in Glenelg.

This news comes following Brew producing a career-best season in 2023. He was awarded his maiden VFL Team of the Year honour, as well as winning the Bruce Montgomery Trophy as Werribee’s best-and-fairest player, with game averages of 25.0 disposals, 9.9 tackles, 7.6 clearances and 14.7 contested possessions. 

Brew is the second Werribee representative to be confirmed in the Smithy’s VFL representative team party, with Gaetano Faranda named as the team’s high-performance manager earlier in the month. Werribee anticipates further representation when the final team is announced in the coming week, having a competition-high eight nominations in the initial 50-man squad.

The announcement was made at Monday night’s training, with Smithy’s VFL coach, current Box Hill senior coach, Zane Littlejohn calling in on zoom and Nick Coughlan presenting Brew with his Big V guernsey. Reflecting on the honour Brew said  “As soon as they announced it, I had eyes set on wanting to play that bye round”.

“Just to lead out the bunch of blokes that will be there, considering all the talent that was picked, it’s pretty surreal considering my journey”.

Brew made his Werribee debut in 2017 and emphasised that this latest honour is a testament to the club's culture; “I’m just a by-product of what this great club is about and the people that are within it”.

“To represent Werribee Football Club is something that I’m proud to do”.

Brew will head a three-player leadership group, with Southport Sharks co-captain Jacob Dawson and Box Hill Hawks midfielder Callum Brown to serve as vice-captains.

MATCH DETAILS
SANFL West End State Team vs Smithy's VFL State Team
Saturday, April 6, 2024
12:40pm local time / 1:10pm AEDT
Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg, SA

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.