Werribee has shored up its defensive stocks by re-signing versatile talls Wardell Lual and Sam Witherden.

Lual, 24, added five games to his tally with the club in 2023 while playing at both ends of the ground.

The 192cm utility joined the club after making six appearances with the Casey Demons in 2019.

Witherden arrived at Avalon Airport Oval last season and spent the campaign plying his trade with North Shore in the Geelong Football League.

The 20-year-old played two VFL games for Sydney Swans as a top up in 2021 during his top-age year with the Geelong Falcons.

Werribee football manager Mark Micallef said it was great to have Lual and Witherden continue with the club.

“Wardell is a very athletic and exciting player who can line up in multiple positions,” he said.

“We’ve settled him in defence this preseason where he can use his speed and agility to play on both bigger and smaller opponents.

“Sam is a versatile defender who can also play through the midfield.

“He is a beautiful kick of the ball, provides plenty of energy around the group and has worked really hard to earn another year with the club.”

Werribee will up its preparations for the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season by playing three practice matches next month ahead of the club’s Round 1 clash with Brisbane on March 25.

The Big W’s first trial game will take place as part of a Victorian standalone carnival on the first Saturday in March.

Coburg, Frankston, Port Melbourne, Northern Bullants, Williamstown and Werribee will all come together at Craigieburn’s Highgate Reserve for three seperate matches. 

The club is set to play Frankston in the second contest of the day.

Six days later we'll face Geelong under lights at the Cats’ GMHBA Stadium with the first bounce at 7pm.

The following Saturday the team will head in the opposition direction to St Kilda’s RSEA Park in Moorabbin for a final hit-out against Sandringham.

PRACTICE MATCH SCHEDULE

vs Frankston, Saturday 4 March
Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn
Time: 1pm

vs Geelong, Friday 10 March
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Time: 7pm

vs Sandringham, Saturday 18 March
RSEA Park, Moorabbin
Time: 2pm

In 2023, our goals are loftier, standards higher, and our people more driven than ever to make the season one to remember.

Check out all our membership packages HERE and be a part of the Werribee Football Club in 2023.

Werribee will play 10 of its 18 matches at home at Avalon Airport Oval this season.

The fixture release for the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season includes the full schedule for Rounds 1-14, along with match ups and venues for the remaining eight rounds.

For the second straight year the competition will consist of 22 rounds, with each of the 21 teams to play 18 home and away matches and have four byes.
  
The competition commences on the weekend of March 24-26, aligning with Round 2 of the AFL season.
 
Werribee opens its season with a trip to Brisbane to take on the Lions and returns to Queensland two weeks later to face 2023 grand finalist Southport, following a second round bye.

Werribee's first home game comes in Round 4 with the club hosting Geelong on Saturday 15th April.

All seven VFL standalone clubs (Coburg, Frankston, Port Melbourne, Northern Bullants, Southport Sharks, Werribee and Williamstown) play each other in 2023.

At the completion of the home and away season the VFL’s very first Wildcard Round will be played across the weekend of August 26-27.

The Wildcard Round will feature two matches – 7 v 10 and 8 v 9 – with the two winners advancing to the VFL Finals Series. The top-six teams on the ladder will have a pre-finals bye.

The highest-ranked winner from the Wildcard Round will enter the finals as the seventh-placed team. 

The VFL Finals Series begins on the weekend of September 2-3 with the 2023 VFL Grand Final scheduled to be played on Sunday, September 24, the weekend before the AFL Grand Final.

Full 2023 Smithy's VFL Fixture HERE 

Werribee 2023 Memberships Available HERE

The Werribee Football Club wishes to advise it will hold its 2022 Annual General Meeting on Monday 27th February at Chirnsides by the River.

The meeting will commence at 6:00pm and is open to all 2022 financial members.

The agenda will cover confirmation of the 2022 AGM minutes, presentation of financial statements for the year ended 31 October 2022, the presentation of the 2022 Annual Report, the election of Directors and general business.

All nominations should be in writing; signed by the candidate; signed by two club members (full member or life member); and delivered to the CEO by no later than Monday 13th February.

Nomination forms are available by contacting the Werribee Football Club office on (03) 9741 6688. Proxy voting is also available by sending a written nomination to the club by no later than Monday 20th February at the below address:

WERRIBEE FOOTBALL CLUB
PO BOX 2049
WERRIBEE VIC 3030