The final round of the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season sees Werribee travel to Sydney in Roudn 22 to face the Swans on Sunday afternoon.

With a top two finish confirmed the Big W will look to cap a brilliant home and away campaign with a 15th straight win and 16th win of the season, with a victory against the Swans also avenging last year’s heavy loss at Avalon Airport Oval.

The Swans have won just four games in 2023 and are the lowest ranked AFL-aligned side in 18th place on the ladder. They were no match for league leaders Gold Coast in Round 21 but enjoyed big wins over Essendon and GWS prior to last weekend’s result.

TEAM NEWS
One change for Werribee sees the return of Noah Lever who missed the Big W’s last outing against Collingwood. He takes the place of an injured Jack Henderson. It’s the first game Henderson has missed having played 82 straight games since debuting in the opening round of the 2018 season.

ROUND 22
Werribee vs Sydney
Sunday 20th August, 1:05pm
Tramway Oval, Sydney

Round 22 Match Centre

Watch live at afl.com.au

There were some big numbers from the 12 Werribee players who appeared locally on the weekend with almost all of them named amongst the best players for their respective clubs.

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Sam Witherden – North Shore
Best on ground for the Seagulls with 28 disposals (18 kicks, 5 clearances) in a defeat at South Barwon. Also had eight marks (three contested) and five tackles on the day.

Charlie Byrne – Newtown & Chilwell
Excellent across halfback in a comfortable win over Bell Park, accumulating 37 disposals with 30 of those kicks. Was also strong in the air taking 15 marks with some good intercepts, or when floating across to spoil.

Keegan Gray – Bell Park (Local Player of the Week)
Second best for his side against the Eagles after another consistent outing. Playing across halfback also, intercepted well and provided good dash and overlap. Tallied 32 disposals (20 kicks) at 84% efficiency with 11 marks.

Emmanuel Ajang – Geelong West
Was influential in a strong victory over Grovedale. Was great offensively on the outside yet again and worked hard defensively. Finished with 29 disposals (19 kicks), nine tackles and goal to be named second best for Giants.

Connor Thar – Lara
Back after another few weeks out and was amongst the top players for the Cats as they fell to St Albans. Had 29 disposals (21 kicks) with some good run and carry and clean hands in tight.

ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Cam McLeod – Avondale Heights
One of the better performers for Heights as the home team took it up to third placed Strathmore in Round 15. Played on the wing and registered 19 disposals, seven marks, four tackles and a goal.

Darcy Cassar – Keilor
Had 26 disposals at 80% efficiency as Keilor put an inaccurate afternoon behind them to secure a narrow seven-point win over East Keilor. Named in the best as the Bulldogs remained undefeated.

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Akol Deng ­­– Yarraville Seddon
Was back to his best as a young Eagles team claimed a 31-point victory over Caroline Springs. Showed great leadership while totalling 41 hit-outs and 20 disposals (16 contested, 9 clearances) as well as taking some important marks, four of them contested.

BENDIGO FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Bailey Henderson – Castlemaine
Backed up last week’s monster outing with another huge game topping all comers with 37 disposals in a close loss to Kyneton. His performance included 26 kicks, 19 contested possessions, nine clearances, eight tackles and two goals.

VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Sam Conway – University Blacks
Was solid in his second game back spending more time in the ruck where he gave his onballers first use with 24 hit-outs. Again, rested forward and kicked a goal in a 47-point win over Old Haileybury.

Jack Boyd – Old Xavierians  
Was the best forward for his side with three goals in a 53-point loss to Old Melbournians. Had 13 disposals and seven marks (four contested), while also tallying 11 hit-outs in the ruck.

Zayne Galea – Williamstown CYMS
Made some improvements to his game defensively this week and was one of the best in a 59-point triumph over AJAX. Also found a good amount of ball with 19 disposals at 84% efficiency. 

Werribee has moved to the top of the VFL ladder thanks to a club record 14th straight win achieved with a 35-point victory over Collingwood in Round 20.

With a 14.9 (93) to 8.10 (58) result over the Magpies the Big W surpassed their previous longest win streak of 13 set in 1998, doing so in the team’s final game at Avalon Airport Oval for the home and away season.

The victory was also Werribee’s ninth consecutive home win in 2023 having made the ground a fortress since an early season loss to Geelong in Round 4.

Against a Collingwood team with 16 AFL-listed players, Tom Gribble and Jack Henderson were outstanding combining for 59 disposals and 15 clearances while Hudson Garoni and Sam Paea each kicked three goals to continue career-best seasons up forward.

It was the seventh time this season Werribee has held an opponent to under 60 points with captain Nick Coughlan and follow backmen Nathan Cooper, Louis Pinnuck and Sam Clohesy orchestrating a brilliant defensive display which included 28 intercepts between them.

In front of a huge crowd the Big W produced one of their best opening quarters of football for the year.

Matt Keast opened the scoring less than four minutes into the contest with his seventh goal of the campaign before Garoni gave Werribee a second as he converted his third opportunity at the 10-minute mark of the term.

With the home team's progress slowed through the middle part of the quarter a Michael Selsby snap eventually gave Werribee a third major with further goals to Porter and Garoni stretching the margin to 33 points at the first change.

Werribee set several game highs in the opening stanza with 17 inside 50s, 15 clearances and 45 uncontested marks, while nine intercept marks helped keep the Magpies scoreless.

Garoni’s strong start continued early in the second as he kicked his third goal just a minute and half into the quarter and when Sam Paea nailed his first at the 23-minute mark the Big W had a 43-point buffer.

However, the Magpies hit back with the next five scoring shots to reduce the margin to 28 points at the main break.

Paea provided the first major of the second half and three of the next four goals courtesy of Nick Hayes, Michael Selsby and Bior Malual would again see the margin out to 43-points before the Pies got one back late in the third.

The visitors continued with the momentum in the final term with a couple of goals reducing the Big W’s lead to 28 points with just over 10 minutes to play, but back-to-back majors to Paea and Keast snuffed out any hopes of a Collingwood comeback.

Werribee: 5.3 8.4 12.6 14.9 (93)
Collingwood: 0.0 3.6 5.9 8.10 (58)

GOALS
Werribee: H. Garoni 3, S. Paea 3, M. Keast 2, M. Selsby 2, J. Porter, T. Gribble, N. Hayes, B. Malual.
Collingwood: J. Ginnivan 2, N. Kreuger, R. McInnes, M. Cox, H. Harrison, C. Murley, J. Tomasiello. 

BEST
Werribee: M. Sodomaco, N. Cooper, B. Malual, S. Paea, J. Henderson, T. Gribble

ROUND 20 IMAGE GALLERY - VIEW HERE

KEY PLAYERS
Tom Gribble: 30 disposals (16 K, 14 HB), 6 marks, 12 handball receives, 5 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 6 score involvements, 1 goal.
Jack Henderson: 29 disposals (16 K, 13 HB), 17 contested possessions, 6 tackles, 10 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 6 score involvements.
Michael Sodomaco: 26 disposals (21 K, 5 HB) at 81% efficiency, 11 marks, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 3 score involvements.
Bior Malual: 26 disposals (21 K, 5 HB), 8 marks (2 intercept), 12 handball receives, 2 tackles, 4 score involvements, 1 goal.
Matt Hanson: 25 disposals (16 K, 9 HB), 8 marks, 12 contested possessions, 4 tackles, 7 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 5 score involvements.
Jack Riding: 17 disposals (13 K, 4 HB), 9 marks (2 contested), 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 5 score involvements.
Nathan Cooper: 14 disposals (7 K, 7 HB), 6 marks (2 intercept), 2 tackles, 3 rebound 50s.
Hudson Garoni: 12 disposals (8 K, 4 HB), 7 marks (3 contested), 2 tackles, 9 score involvements, 3 goals.
Kobe Annand: 11 disposals (8 K, 3 HB), 3 marks (1 intercept), 12 hit-outs, 6 tackles, 2 clearances.
Sam Paea: 11 disposals (9 K, 2 HB), 5 marks (2 contested), 2 score assists, 3 goals.

NEXT GAME
Round 22
Werribee vs Sydney
Sunday 20th August, 12:05pm
Tramway Oval, Sydney

Despite a bye for the WRFL, fourteen Werribee players again lined up in local competitions last weekend with one bigman back on the field for the first time this season.  

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Emmanuel Ajang – Geelong West
In the best players for the sixth week in a row thanks to a four-quarter performance in an easy win over St Albans. Played inside mid and had some great run and carry as well as kicking two goals.

Keegan Gray – Bell Park
Was second best in a 30-point win at Lara after accumulating 38 disposals with 27 kicks. Provided great rebound off halfback and was brilliant with his decision making and ball use.  

Charlie Byrne – Newtown & Chilwell
Had 23 disposals (18 kicks) and 10 marks (5 intercept) as the Eagles went down to South Barwon by 45-points after taking a two-point lead into the final quarter.

Flynn Young – Newtown & Chilwell
Was lively early but was soon hampered by a finger injury which limited him for the rest the day as the Eagles fell to their fourth loss.

Sam Witherden – North Shore
Lined up in a key defensive post and in the midfield against St Joseph’s and had 23 disposals and six marks in the Seagulls’ 48-point loss.

Cam Anderson – North Shore
Played all over ground in the Round 14 contest with the Joeys. Started back and then went forward before later rolling through the middle. Totalled 15 disposals and three tackles.

ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Darcy Cassar – Keilor
Won the third most possessions for the Bulldogs in a huge win over bottom placed Maribyrnong Park. Worked hard to find the footy 35 times and used it well with a disposal efficiency of 82%.

Lachlan Smart – Deer Park
Kicked six goals for the second week in a row as the Lions registered another massive victory, this time dismantling bottom side Glenroy by 161 points. Tallied 16 disposals and eight marks.

BALLARAT FOOTBAL LEAGUE

Jay Dahlhaus – Sebastopol
Was the leading baller winner for his team for the third straight week collecting 28 disposals (14 contested) while leading the Burras to a 22-point win over North Ballarat. Also contributed two goals and seven tackles against the higher placed Roosters.

Jack Riding – North Ballarat
Played well in the loss to Sebastopol with 22 disposals (13 contested), three goals and six tackles. Worked hard across the day while also displaying his break away ability.

BENDIGO FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Bailey Henderson – Castlemaine (Local Player of the Week)
Had a huge day at Kangaroo Flat with 39 disposals and seven goals. His superb showing included 12 inside 50s and 10 clearances along with 10 marks (3 contested) and eight tackles, as the Magpies fell 23 points short against the Roos.

VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Jack Boyd – Old Xavierians  
Was good in the ruck and produced some good follow-up from stoppages in a 55-point defeat against second placed Old Scotch. Finished with 20 disposals including 15 contested and seven clearances.

Sam Conway – University Blacks
Back after a long injury absence and showed some good signs in both the ruck and up forward in his return. Contributed two of his sides six goals in a loss to Collegians.

Zayne Galea – Williamstown CYMS
Was good offensively against Old Trinity in a match of two halves which saw the CY’s suffer a disappointing 44-point loss after a goalless second half.