The 2025 Smithy’s VFL State Team squad has been announced today ahead of the clash with the SANFL on April 12.

For the second consecutive year, the VFL will take on the SANFL, and reigning premiers Werribee have three players named in the 43-man squad: Dom Brew, Louis Pinnuck, and Jack Riding.

Dom Brew has again been named in the squad of 50 after a historic individual season in 2024.

Brew won almost everything possible, including the J.J. Liston Medal, a second consecutive Bruce Montgomery Trophy, and VFL Coaches MVP. The star midfielder was also the VFL Premiership Captain, and earned Werribee Life Member, all while averaging 28 disposals, 18 contested possessions, and 10 clearances per game.

Louis Pinnuck, Brew’s deputy vice-captain at Werribee, has also earned selection for the second straight year. Pinnuck was named in the final side in 2024 but was ruled out after suffering an injury in round 2.

2024 was a standout year for the 26-year-old defender. Pinnuck played 20 games, led the competition in total marks, finished top five in Werribee's best-and-fairest, and capped it off by receiving Life Membership of the club.

Rounding out the selections is Werribee’s Most Improved Player for 2024, Jack Riding.

Initially playing in defense, he moved forward and made an immediate impact, producing standout performances in Round 5 (17 disposals, 2 goals) and Round 6 (34 disposals, 10 inside 50s, 4 goal assists). He finished the season with 19 goals and was among the league’s top five in goal assists.

Riding carried that form into Werribee’s 2025 season opener against Southport, collecting 28 disposals and earning a team-high three coaches’ votes while playing through the midfield.

The clash between the Smithy’s VFL State Team and the SANFL’s West End State Team will take place at Tanunda Recreation Park in the Barossa on Saturday, April 12, from 2:45 pm ACST.

The final squad of 23 will be named closer to the game.

Werribee football is back in just one week! Don’t miss our 2025 home opener as we unfurl the premiership flag at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval against Footscray in Round 3.

Get your tickets HERE.

After opening the season with a Grand Final rematch in Southport, Werribee returns to Victoria this weekend.

Werribee will be looking to bounce back after their loss to the Sharks last Saturday when they face Essendon at the NEC Hangar on Saturday at 11:05am

Werribee showed promising signs with nine players debuting and the result in doubt until the final few moments of the last quarter.

Essendon comes into the clash following a round one victory against Williamstown coming from behind, kicking five goals in the last term to secure an 11-point win.

The match will be streamed, live and free, on afl.com.au and the AFL Live Official App for Werribee fans who can not make the game, with the first bounce at 11:05AM.

Remember Werribee returns to Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday April 5 to unfurl the 2024 Premiership flag and take on Footscray for our first home game of the season.

MATCH DETAILS – ROUND 2
Werribee vs Essendon
Saturday, March 29, 11:05AM
NEC Hangar

Round 2 Match Centre

Watch live at afl.com.au

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.

A five-goal final term wasn’t enough for Werribee, as they fell to Southport to open the 2025 Smithy’s VFL season.

Facing off at Fankhauser Reserve in a game played in all weather conditions, the two sides delivered yet another thriller, their fourth in two seasons. With just a point separating them at the 20-minute mark of the final quarter, Southport’s experience proved decisive late, as they pulled away to secure an 18-point win, 13.11 (89) to 10.11 (71).

Werribee’s side featured nine new faces, as well as Tylar Watts who played his fourth game for the side and first since 2019. Of the debutants, five made their VFL debuts: ruckman Ben Kellett, key forward Brady Wright, small forward Noah Tullio, wingman Myles McCluggage, and contested bull Jackson Grundy. It was also Jesse Clark’s first official outing as captain after taking over the role from the retired Nick Coughlan.

The visitors struck first through Brady Wright, who joined the first kick first goal club, with a composed set shot to open Werribee’s account for 2025.

The opening term was an arm wrestle, with both teams managing just a single goal. Southport registering 1.6 to Werribee’s 1.2 to take a four-point lead at the first break.

Werribee opened the second quarter with the first goal once again, as Hudson Garoni got his season underway with a bouncing finish from outside 50. Southport responded to reclaim the lead midway through the term, but Brady Wright emerged, slotting back-to-back goals to cap off a three-goal first half and give Werribee a 10-point lead at the main break.

After playing as a half forward last season, Jack Riding got a taste of the midfield, and in the first half was leading all possession winners with 17 disposals and five tackles. Young guns Jaelen Pavlidis and Jake Smith both started in strong fashion, finding 13 disposals each to the main break.

Southport came out of the main break with the first goal in the opening two minutes, before Bior Malual squeezed through a set shot goal to end a great end-to-end passage of play. However, from there, Southport seized control, piling on six unanswered goals to open up a 24-point lead early in the final term.

Flynn Young sparked Werribee’s fightback, kicking two quick goals, before Jake Smith added another on the run to bring the margin back into single digits.

Southport answered through Brock Aston but Werribee kept coming. Malual slotted his second, and Zac Banch—who had looked dangerous all day—finished off another coast-to-coast goal, reducing the deficit to just one point midway through the final quarter.

With the game on the line, Southport’s experience shone through as they wrestled back control, kicking the final three goals to secure an 18-point victory.

Malual was a standout, carrying his strong pre-season form into the match with 22 disposals, eight marks, and two goals.

Harry Grintell, who has proved to be a capable swingman for Werribee played a strong game with 20 disposals and six marks. Ryan Eyers, playing his first game for the club since crossing from Geelong, made an instant impact in defense and was named among Werribee’s best.

ROUND 1 PHOTO GALLERY - CLICK HERE

FINAL SCORE:
Werribee: 1.2 4.7 5.9 10.11 (71)
Southport: 1.6 2.9 8.9 13.11 (89)

GOAL SCORERS:
Werribee: B. Wright (3), B. Malual (2), F. Young (2), Z. Banch, H. Garoni, J. Smith
Southport: Z. Foot (4), J. Gore (3), B. Aston, W. Buzza, J. Dawson, H. Dixon, S. Lowson, M. Manteit

BEST PLAYERS:
Werribee: B. Wright, R. Eyers, B. Malual, H. Grintell, F. Young, J. Smith

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.

The reigning VFL premiers will feature a host of new faces in their Grand Final rematch to kick off the season, with nine Werribee players set to make their club debut at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday.

More than half of the nine will be playing their first VFL game, with Myles McCluggage, Jackson Grundy, Brady Wright, Ben Kellett, and Noah Tullio making their debuts.

Rounding out the debutants are Ryan Eyers, Jake Lohmann, Jedd Longmire, and Mace Cousins, who will all run out in the Big W for the first time.

In a good story for the town of Werribee, Noah Tullio, who grew up playing for Werribee Districts as a junior will make his VFL debut at 18 years of age, after a strong season with the Geelong Falcons last year.

Brady Wright is another young talent set to take the field for his first VFL game. The 20-year-old key forward has climbed the ranks after a standout pre-season. He made an immediate impact in a practice match against the Bullants, coming on at halftime to kick two goals and take two contested marks in the third quarter.

Jackson Grundy earns his first VFL opportunity after an impressive pre-season, having played all four practice matches. The 23-year-old inside midfielder arrives from North Warrnambool in the Hampden Football Netball League, where he reached the 100-game milestone in 2024.

Ben Kellett secured his debut after a strong showing in last week’s practice match against Footscray. A North Warrnambool product, he played two years of senior football alongside Grundy before moving to Geelong, where he spent two standout seasons with South Barwon.

Myles McCluggage has timed his return to full fitness perfectly and will make his first appearance for Werribee in the season opener. The midfielder joined the club after a strong 2024 season with South Warrnambool, where he was named in the Hampden League Team of the Year.

Corowa Rutherglen teammates Jedd Longmire and Ryan Eyers will pull on the Big W together for the first time. Longmire arrives after serving as vice-captain of Collingwood’s VFL side, while Eyers, a key defender, made nine appearances for Geelong VFL.

Jake Lohmann will bring experience to the side as he plays for his third VFL team. Returning to Victoria after spending last season with Brisbane's VFL side, the midfielder will run out for his 33rd VFL game and first for Werribee.

Mace Cousins' first game for Werribee will be his first official game since 2023, a year in which he won Geelong VFL’s Best First Year Player award.

Speaking on the nine debutants, new Football Manager Kyle Hartigan said, “All these guys have come into the football club and made an immediate impact. They have all earnt the right to pull on the Werribee jumper for the first time.”

Hartigan added, “It's exciting to see the next wave of talent coming through, and we are looking forward to seeing what they all bring.”

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.