In news that will come as no surprise to keen followers of the game and VFL football in particular, the VFL Coach of the Year - Werribee's Michael Barlow - is joining the North Melbourne Football Club as Development Manager. 

Just days after guiding Werribee into its first Grand Final in almost twenty years, Barlow accepted the offer to take the next step in his coaching career.

Werribee President Martin Carter naturally has mixed emotions: "The entire club is delighted for Mick but also disappointed to lose one of our favourite sons (again) to the AFL. Interestingly, our last two senior coaches have been headhunted by AFL clubs, which says a lot about the status of our club and our senior coaching position. We are proud to have played a part in Mick's football journey firstly as a player when he was drafted to Fremantle and now as his AFL coaching career begins." 

Barlow's three years as senior coach culminated with the Grand Final appearance after a club record-breaking 17 game winning streak, achievements he is very proud of: "The grand final loss still stings but this playing group gave everything they had and will be better for the experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed this stint at Avalon Airport Oval and thank the club for giving me the opportunity. It is a special club with an outstanding administration, great facilities and a culture committed to excellence on and off the field." 

The most sought after coaching job in Victorian football is now vacant and Werribee CEO Mark Penaluna expects a lot of interest: "Replacing someone of Mick's calibre is not an easy task but I am sure there are a lot of quality football people who will be keen to join us. It is a position full of possibilities and we are keen to build on what we achieved this year."      

Dom Brew has won his first Werribee best and fairest award taking out the 2023 Bruce Montgomery Trophy on Thursday night after a career best season.

He polled 233 votes to finish 14 clear of runner-up Shaun Mannagh on 219 votes with two-time Bruce Montgomery Trophy winner Tom Gribble third with 214 votes.

The hard-nosed midfielder expanded his offensive game this season while still negating the opposition’s best onballer.

Brew, 26, played all 21 games and averaged a career-best 25 disposals per outing while leading the team in contested possessions (14.7), clearances (7.6) and tackles (9.9).

He was also recognised as the Trademark Player of the Year, an award voted on by the 23 selected players each round.

Runner-up Mannagh placed in the top three for the third straight season equalling his 2021 finish with Gribble near the top again after winning last year’s count.

Best and fairest voting is completed by senior coach Michal Barlow and assistants Nick Daffy, Chirs O’Keefe and Simon Riddoch who award 0-5 votes to every player at the end of each game, including finals.

Last year’s runner up Kye Declase was fourth polling 209 votes with defender Nathan Cooper rounding our the top five on 201 votes.

Declase was named the Best Finals Player and Cooper the Defensive Player of the Year.

Hudson Garoni claimed Werribee’s goal kicking award with a career-best 45 majors, while the ever-reliable Jack Henderson took home the Coaches Award

Sam Clohesy collected Most Improved after appearing in every game in his second season while finishing the year as one of the club’s most consistent performers.

Fellow young gun Kobe Annand was named the Best First Year Player after a terrific debut season in the ruck.

Champion midfielder Matt Hanson was recognised with Life Membership of the club, as a result of playing his 100^th game for Werribee in the Qualifying Final against Box Hill.

Meanwhile, team manager Joe Elevato received the Ray Smith Club Person Award and Bailey Henderson the Community Development Award for his efforts supporting Werribee’s community endeavours.

2023 Award Winners
Property Award: Flynn Young
Trainers Award: Bailey Henderson & Shaun Mannagh
Community Development Award: Bailey Henderson
Local Player of the Year: Emmanuel Ajang (Geelong West)
Best First Year Player: Kobe Annand
Most Improved: Sam Clohesy
Coaches Award: Jack Henderson
Leading Goal Kicker: Hudson Garoni (45 goals)
Defensive Player of the Year: Nathan Cooper
Trademark Player of the Year: Dom Brew
Best Finals Player: Kye Declase
Life Membership (100 Games): Matt Hanson  
Ray Smith Club Person: Joe Elevato

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