The Werribee Football Club is excited to announce the launch of a new program that will work in partnership with North Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy for Multicultural and Indigenous boys and girls in Wyndham. 

The program is a joint initiative between the AFL, Werribee Football Club and North Melbourne Football Club focused on identifying, engaging and developing underage talent in non-traditional communities. 

The program will target Multicultural and Indigenous boys and girls aged 11-13 and provide them with access to both high performance resources and facilities as well as high-level coaching. 

Werribee Football Club CEO Mark Penaluna said it was excellent opportunity for the club - "We consider ourselves a leader in terms of what we deliver in the community,” he said. 

“We’ve been introducing football to people of all ages for many years through in-school programs and a range of other initiatives, and we’re thrilled to be adding to that.  

“It’s wonderful that the AFL and North Melbourne have given us the tick of approval to partner with North Melbourne’s NGA program, which captures the Wyndham region, and it’s a fantastic opportunity to invest further in the game in Wyndham, particularly in women’s football. 

“Wyndham is one of the most culturally diverse areas of the state and we’re excited to start work on increasing the talent pool of Multicultural and Indigenous male and female players.” 

Over recent months the club has been delivering development programs for boys and girls in years 7-9, completing a four-week program at Point Cook College and The Grange College in Hoppers Crossing.

Werribee has been running community initiatives across Wyndham since 2007 and now employees one full-time and two part-time staff, along with a casual work force.

The club delivers a range of programs with many Wyndham-based schools, local Auskick centres and other organisations including Reclink Australia, Wyndham City Council and The Salvation Army. 

Werribee fell short of a drought-breaking premiership on Sunday going down to the Gold Coast Suns by 19-points in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final at IKON Park.

Chasing a second VFA/VFL premiership, 30 years on from the club’s lone grand final triumph in 1993 it wasn’t to be for Werribee as their 17-game unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of the Suns.

The Big W matched it with their more fancied opponents for long periods but failed to capitalise on opportunities while Gold Coast just had a little bit more class and firepower with 20 AFL-listed players in their side.

Werribee star Shaun Mannagh was the best player on the ground and duefuly received the Norm Goss Medal after an incredible performance that included six goals and 27 disposals.  

Werribee made two changes from its preliminary final team for the decider with Keegan Gray coming in for Matt Keast, while Connor Thar who kicked three goals to help the Tigers past the Lions, was a late out with Harry Grintell his replacement.

On the biggest stage of the year, it took Werribee several minutes to settle into the game with the Suns kicking the opening two goals through Chris Burgess and Mabior Chol. It would be Mannagh who kick started Werribee's day, converting a set shot from 40 metres at the 11-minute mark before getting the crowd on their feet with a volley out of the air to level things up just moments later.

Bior Malual produced some highlights in the opening term with a flashy sidestep on the wing, and a tackle on the line to deny a certain goal. Blows were traded late, with a Hudson Garoni mark and goal keeping Werribee in touch as the Suns went into the first break with a seven-point buffer.

Following an early Gold Coast behind to start the second it was all Werribee for the next 13 minutes. After a couple of minor scores a Mannagh check-side gave Werribee its first major of the quarter before a Jack Henderson bomb from the 50 gave the Big W the lead halfway through the term.

Gold Coast responded with a strong 10 minutes of their own kicking four straight goals before Mannagh again stepped up, with his fourth goal reducing the margin to 10 points and wrestling some momentum back for the Big W ahead of the main break.

Werribee went to the half with 53 more possessions and 10 more inside 50s with Mannagh, Matt Hanson, Sam Clohesy and Kye Declase the team's best performers in the opening 60 minutes of play.

The Suns dominated play in the third, again kicking four consecutive goals to push the margin out to a game-high 38 points. With Werribee’s backs against the wall, it took a special effort from Kye Declase, spinning out of one tackle and stepping by another before firing through a much needed major to end a scoreless 25-minute period.

Harry Grintell then found himself on the end of Tom Gribbble handball and slotted home to reduce the margin to 26, while a Sam Day miss after the siren made the difference 27 points with a quarter to play.

Werribee’s famous victory over the Suns in Round 9 had them facing a 29-point deficit to start the last, so it wasn’t unfamiliar territory for the Big W with it all to play for in the final stanza. And after Michael Barlow’s last address of the year the Big W came out firing.

Mannagh registered his fifth goal in the opening three minutes with a brilliant running effort from a centre square stoppage. Not long after Grintell snapped around the body for his second of and it was back to a 15-point game. But as they’d done all day the Suns again responded, a quick fire three goals pushed their advantage back to 31 points through 15 minutes.

A quick reply came via Sam Paea and then Keagan Gray nailed a set shot from the arc to bring Werribee within 19 points at the 22-minute mark. Two more Gold Coast goals would all but confirm the result with the ball living in Werribee’s forward half for the final stages of match.

However, repeat stoppages made things all too difficult, before Matt Hanson capped a brilliant performance with a consolation goal after the final siren, bringing the curtain down on a magnificent season for Werribee but a win short of the ultimate prize.

Werribee: 3.1 6.5 8.5 14.9 (93)
Gold Coast: 4.2 8.3 12.8 17.10 (112)

GOALS
Werribee: S. Mannagh 6, H. Grintell 2, S. Paea, J. Henderson, M. Hanson, K. Gray, K. Declase.
Gold Coast: M. Chol 4, B. McLaughlin 3, C. Burgess 3, A. Sexton 2, S. Day 2, J. Sharp, L. Lombard, C. Lake.

BEST
Werribee: S. Mannagh, M. Hanson, S. Clohesy, L. Pinncuk, T. Gribble, K. Declase.

GRAND FINAL IMAGE GALLERY 1 - VIEW HERE

GRAND FINAL IMAGE GALLERY 2 - VIEW HERE

PLAYER STATS
Matt Hanson: 31 disposals (20 K, 11 HB), 13 handball receives, 6 marks, 10 clearances, 7 score involvements, 1 goal, 10 tackles.
Tom Gribble: 28 disposals (15 K, 13 HB), 16 contested possessions, 8 clearances, 5 score involvements, 7 tackles.
Shaun Mannagh: 28 disposals (20 , 8 HB), 6 marks, 4 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 7 score, 1 goals, 4 tackles.
Kye Declase: 27 disposals (18 K, 9 HB), 8 marks, 5 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 10 score involvements, 1 goal.
Sam Clohesy: 21 disposals (14 K, 7 HB) at 81% efficiency, 7 marks, 6 rebound 50s.
Keegan Gray: 20 disposals (8 K, 12 HB), 6 marks, 5 cleanaces, 5 inside 50s, 5 score involvements, 1 goal 3 tackles.
Nick Coughlan: 19 disposals (16 K, 2 HB) at 89% efficiency, 5 marks (3 intercept), 7 rebound 50s.
Louis Pinnuck: 17 disposals (13 K, 4 HB), 7 marks (2 intercept), 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s.

Report by Gerald Lynch

Several Werribee players and coach Michael Barlow were recognised for outstanding seasons in 2023 at Monday night’s VFL and VFLW Awards at Crown Palladium.

Captain Nick Coughlan, vice-captain’s Dom Brew and Shaun Mannagh and star onballer Tom Gribble all earned VFL Team of the Year hours with Barlow included as coach, while Sam Clohesy received the Fothergill Round Mitchell Medal for the most promising player under the age of 24.

In the JJ Liston Trophy count, two-time reigning winner Gribble again went in as one of the favourites before finishing the count third with 21 votes, five behind winner Jarryd Lyons of Brisbane. Mannagh also polled well placing fifth, two votes back of Gribble.

Werribee’s four Team of the Year player selections was the equal most of any side with Grand Final opponent Gold Coast having the same number.

Coughlan was named at centre-half back for the second time after averaging a career high 19.6 disposals per game in 2023, including 7.3 intercepts and 8.1 rebound 50s.

Gribble earned Team of the Year honours for the fourth straight season following a campaign in which he gathered 31.8 disposals per game with 22.7 effective disposals and 6.7 clearances.

Mannagh made it back-to-back selections at half-forward after tallying several career bests with 25.9 disposals and 6.1 tackles amongst others, while also kicking 32 goals in the home and away season.

Brew was picked in the Team of the Year for the first time with averages of 25.8 disposals, 15.3 contested possessions and 7.9 clearances, all career highs, and again topped the league with 176 tackles.

Barlow led Werribee to a 16-2 home and away season record in his third year in charge before adding a further two victories to guide his side into this year’s Smithy’s VFL Grand Final on the back of a club record 17 straight wins.

Clohesy, 20, became the third Werribee player to win the Fothergill Round Mitchell Medal in the past five seasons following Josh Corbett in 2018 and Jake Riccardi in 2019.

The athletic rebounding defender has played every game in 2023 and averaged 15.7 disposals, 5.2 marks and 2.3 tackles during the home and away campaign.

The final accolade was VFL Life Membership for Gribble on account of his two JJ Liston Trophy wins, which ensured the 28-year-old again went home with more than one honour.

For a full wrap of the night and all the award winners CLICK HERE.

Top: Sam Clohesy received the Fothergill Round Mitchell Medal.
Middle: Werribee's Team of the Year members Nick Coughlan, Tom Gribble, Michael Barlow, Shaun Mannagh and Dom Brew.

In a special Grand Final preview edition of the The Big W Podcast coach Michael Barlow chats to Kevin Hillier about his team’s journey so far and what is to come for the players, coaches and staff. We also hear from CEO Mark Penaluna as the club gears up for the big day on Sunday.

Produced by Howdy Partners Media (howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts) on behalf of the Werribee Football Club.