Werribee’s premiership defence officially kicks off this weekend, with a trip north to Queensland to take on Southport.

The Grand Final rematch marks Werribee’s third visit to Fankhauser Reserve in as many seasons. Last year’s Round 2 clash was a thriller, with Werribee edging out a three-point victory.

Werribee enters Round 1 having played four practice matches, with over 40 players pulling on the jumper throughout the pre-season.

Werribee heads into the season opener in winning form, following a 30-point victory over Footscray at Whitten Oval last Saturday.

With seven premiership players departing there will be a host of fresh faces running out for the first time behind Jesse Clark, who in his 52nd game will play his first as captain.

First bounce is at 1:05 PM Melbourne time, with the game streamed live and free on afl.com.au and the AFL Live Official App for fans back home. Click here to watch live.

This match is the first of two away games to start the season before Werribee will unfurl the 2024 premiership flag in Round 3 against Footscray at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday, April 5.

MATCH DETAILS – ROUND 1
Werribee vs Southport Sharks
Saturday, March 22, 12:05PM*
Fankhauser Reserve, Southport
*Local Queensland Time

Round 1 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.

Werribee is thrilled to announce that Kyle Hartigan will step into the role of Football Manager for the 2025 season, following a comprehensive international recruiting process.

This will be Hartigan’s second season at Werribee following his 135-game AFL career. He joined the club as an assistant coach, where he took charge of the VFL's best defence during Werribee’s premiership-winning year. Having already built strong relationships with players, staff, and coaches in the 2024 campaign, he is well-placed to take on this leadership role.

In addition to his new responsibilities, Hartigan will continue as an assistant coach on game days, while Mark Micallef returns to the club to assist with Match Day operations. Micallef is no stranger to Werribee, having served as Football Manager from 2021 to 2023. 

For Hartigan, this next chapter brings his football journey full circle. After missing out on the 2009 AFL Draft, he joined Werribee for the 2010 season, drawn to the club’s AFL-like football structure. He played 48 senior games between 2010 and 2012 before being selected with Adelaide’s first pick in the 2012 rookie draft.

His return is a testament to Werribee’s tradition of developing careers and welcoming people back to contribute even further. He joins a long list of former players and coaches who have done the same, including Michael Barlow, who was named the AFL’s Development Coach of the Year in 2024. 

Werribee CEO Mark Penaluna spoke highly on Hartigan stepping up to the role, “After a thorough process, we’re delighted to announce that Kyle Hartigan has been selected as our Football Manager.

Kyle has a long history with the club, dating back to 2010. He was drafted in 2012 after being part of our preliminary final teams and went on to join the Crows. Throughout his time at both Adelaide and Hawthorn, he remained a club member. After his sensational AFL career, he rejoined us as a premiership-winning assistant coach and has held other roles within the AFL football industry."

Penaluna added, "He sees this as a natural step in his off-field football progression."

Kyle Hartigan said; “It's a privilege to be part of the Werribee Footy Club — first as a player, then as a coach, and now as Football Manager. It's a club I'm really passionate about, and I'm committed to continuing building that sustained success on and off the field for the foreseeable future."

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.

Werribee capped off their preparations for the 2025 Smithy’s VFL season with a 30-point win over Footscray at Whitten Oval.

In their final hit-out before launching their premiership defence, Jimmy Allan’s men proved too strong in warm conditions on Saturday, claiming a 12.4 (76) to 5.16 (46) victory.

Newly appointed captain Jesse Clark led the side out for the first time, with Werribee fielding its strongest lineup of the pre-season after rotating players throughout the first three matches.

Werribee was sharp early piling on four first-quarter goals. Small forward Zac Banch was electric early, kicking two while Werribee local Noah Tullio snapped his first goal in club colours with a clever kick out of the pack. Hudson Garoni, continuing his impressive form from last season—where he was the only player in the VFL to kick a goal in every game—also found the scoreboard.

Holding a narrow three-point lead at quarter time, Werribee tightened up defensively in the second term, keeping Footscray goalless to extend their advantage to 12 points at the main break.

Bior Malual, who has been in strong form this pre-season, floated forward from the wing to slot a goal, while Collingwood recruit Jedd Longmire calmly converted a set shot to add to Werribee’s tally.

Second-year midfeilder Jake Smith, who was prolific in the first half, opened the second-half scoring with a set shot goal, before defender Louis Pinnuck pushed forward to soccer home what might be the easiest major of his career from the goal line.

The warm conditions didn’t slow Werribee, as they surged home with a four-goal-to-none final quarter. Hudson Garoni capped off his pre-season with two late majors, while Zac Banch added another, both finishing as the game's leading goalkickers with three each.

FINAL SCORE:
Footscray: 3.4 3.7 5.13 5.16 (46)
Werribee: 4.1 6.1 8.2 12.4 (76)

GOALS:
Werribee: Z. Banch (3), H. Garoni (3), J. Longmire, B. Malual, L. Pinnuck, J. Smith, N. Tullio, F. Young

IMAGE GALLERY – VIEW HERE

Next Match – Round 1
Southport vs Werribee
Saturday March 22, 12:05PM*
Fankhauser Reserve, Southport
*Local Time

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.

Werribee is pleased to partner with the North Melbourne Football Club across their VFLW and Next Generation Academy (NGA) programs.

The three-year partnership will see North Melbourne’s VFLW team named the North Melbourne Werribee Kangaroos and play up to four games a season at Werribee’s home of Avalon Airport Oval, including two games confirmed for 2025.

Werribee will also expand its support for the delivery of North Melbourne’s NGA program in the City of Wyndham, designed to identify and develop young multicultural and Indigenous footballers from the region, after first joining forces in 2023.

North Melbourne general manager of women’s football Erin Lorenzini said the partnership was an opportunity to invest further in the game in the Wyndham region.

“This new partnership with the Werribee Football Club builds on North Melbourne’s long-standing connection to the City of Wyndham and is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen both the game’s presence in the region and our women’s football and talent pathway programs,” Lorenzini said.

“Our VFLW team will continue to train and play games at North Melbourne’s home of Arden Street Oval but will now have access to Werribee’s state-of-the-art facilities at Avalon Airport Oval.

“Werribee is an important hub in the City of Wyndham, and we look forward to working with them to introduce more people to football and grow the pipeline of talent in the region.”

Werribee CEO Mark Penaluna said the partnership would support greater local participation in women’s football.

“This partnership will provide enormous opportunities for local female players to take that important and challenging step to the elite level and enables our club to begin our journey into women’s football,” Penaluna said.

“The ongoing relationship we have with North Melbourne has been beneficial to both clubs, to football and the community, and this venture is a natural progression for both.

“We believe this model is the best outcome for growing the female game in Wyndham for current and future players, plus others wishing to get involved in women’s football.”

North Melbourne’s connection to the City of Wyndham spans more than 16 years.

The club’s VFL program was affiliated with the Werribee Football Club from 2008 – 2017, while its community arm, The Huddle, operating out of its satellite office at Avalon Airport Oval, has delivered programs to more than 50,000 children and young people across the region since 2016 to strengthen their education and employment outcomes through the power of sport.

Most recently, members of North Melbourne’s AFL team visited schools and hosted a clinic in the region as part of the AFL’s annual Community Camp program.

The North Melbourne Werribee Kangaroos and reigning VFLW premiers will kick off their 2025 campaign on Friday, April 18 against Carlton at Arden Street Oval.

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.