With the club having its second bye in Round 8 there was no shortage of Werribee players in action for their local clubs over the weekend along with seven players selected for the Fitzroy Cubs team that faced Carlton VFL on Sunday.

EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Tom McCaffrey – Balwyn

Was prominent in the first half providing plenty of ball for the Tigers forwards to help set up what would be a three-goal win. Tallied 23 disposals and tackled well.


GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Keegan Gray - Bell Park

Collected 16 disposals for the Dragons in their 17-point loss at Grovedale.

Noah Gribble – Geelong West

Had another 30+ possession game with 33 disposals at 79% efficiency but the Giants suffered their biggest loss of the season with St Joseph’s victorious by 100 points.

Flynn Young - Grovedale

Was one of the best for the Tigers in their 17-point triumph over Bell Park booting four goals for the second time this season. Took the game on at the right time and executed well with ball in hand.   

Logan Wagener – Leopold

Provided a great contest and balance around stoppages while contributing offensively and defensively in a 15-point win over South Barwon. Kicked a goal, provided score assists and tackle pressure to be amongst the best.

Sam Witherden – North Shore

Had his best outing of the year amassing 33 disposals and five tackles for the Eagles who, after leading by a goal at halftime, went down to Newtown & Chilwell by 39 points.

 St Joseph’s – Sam Clohesy (Local Player of the Week)

Had a standout game playing wing and half-forward. Work rate up and down the ground as a when on the wing was terrific and proved a difficulty match-up forward kicking a season-best four goals in the win over Geelong West.

St Mary’s

Darcy Chirgwin – Had 19 disposals as the Saints remained undefeated after  a 51-point win over Lara.

Joe Maishman – Had 15 possessions and five clearances playing on-ball and forward.

Matt Keast – Line-up on the wing and at half forward and played his role with 16 disposals and 4 tackles.

Sam Conway – Started the game strong and finished the match with 23 hit-outs from two and a half quarters.  

 
HAMPDEN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Tex Korewha - Koroit

Played well in windy conditions. Competed well up forward and in the ruck, hit the scoreboard and was excellent following up at ground level as Koroit claimed a 101-point victory over Cobden. 

 
OVENS AND MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Nick Coughlan – Albury

In his first game back from a hamstring injury made a rare appearance for home club Albury where he collected 15 disposals along with six marks in a 52-point triumph.

Jack Driscoll – Lavington

Started forward before moving into the ruck as the Panthers secured an 18-point win. Had a big influence in the fourth quarter and ended the game with 15 disposals and several important clearances.

Hudson Garoni – Wodonga Bulldogs

Contributed three goals and was named the Bulldogs’ second best in their 27-point victory over Wangaratta Rovers.  

Daniel Sharrock – Wangaratta Magpies

Spent the first two quarters in the midfield before moving to half-back for the second half. Was a key contributor in wet conditions with 26 disposals and nine tackles in a 32-point win over Myrtleford

VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Harry Stubbings – Old Scotch

Had 19 disposals and kicked two goals for the Cardinals in their 22-point loss to Old Xavierians.


WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Lachlan Smart – Deer Park

Was solid early for the Lions against Yarraville Seddon before leaving the match with injury.

 
FITZROY CUBS (Played Carlton VFL)

Akol Deng – Initial work in the ruck was good, didn’t always get his hand to the ball first but his follow up, tackling and pressure kept him in the contest at all times.

Ariek Lual – One of the team’s best. Was dangerous up forward and jumped over his opponent regularly when in the ruck. Did the basics well, took plenty of marks and could’ve easily kicked a bag.

Bior Malul – Was an assured presence playing behind the footy. Very composed when in possession and was highly effective by hand and foot.

Emmanuel Ajang – Was impressive as an inside midfielder with his ability to win the ball, burst from the contest and work through traffic. One of the best until he copped a knock in the third term.

Reuben William – A very consistent performer over four quarters. Was good defending deep and equally as good through the middle of the ground. Was strong overhead.

Saad El-Hawli – Defensively was rarely beaten one-on-one and then pushed up the ground well and was dangerous forward of centre. Didn’t have huge possessions but didn’t waste what he had.   

Sam Paea – Started the game strong and continued to lead up well all day.

Seven Werribee players will feature in a 23-man multicultural team to play Carlton VFL this weekend.

The Fitzroy Cubs program has been introduced this year with the purpose of showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally diverse talent prior to the AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft and as pre-cursor to the AFL’s upcoming Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

It's hoped the program will provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally diverse young people a new pathway into elite football competitions.

Emmanuel Ajang, Akol Deng, Saad El-Hawli, Ariek Lual, Bior Malual, Sam Paea and Reuben William have all been selected to appear in the match at IKON Park on Sunday.

A talent identification day was held at Brunswick Oval on Sunday 24 April which assisted in the selection process.

The Fitzroy Cubs will be coached by Northern Bullants assistant coach Jason Williams - who has recently been appointed head coach of the AFL’s Indigenous talent programs.

Three-time Brisbane Lions premiership player Chris Johnson is serving as the team's manager.

The Fitzroy Cubs v Carlton’s VFL game will be from 10:50am at IKON Park on Sunday 15 May. It will be followed by the second Colgate Young Guns Series game, with the Colgate Young Guns taking on Victoria Country U18 from 1:30pm.

WATCH MATCH HERE

A first home win of the season continues to allude Werribee with the Big W suffering a disappointing 70-point loss to Sydney at Avalon Airport Oval in Round 7.

Down by 62 points at halftime after kicking just two goals in the opening two terms of play, the home team matched it with the Swans thereafter.  In the second half Werribee held the visitors to just four goals while finishing the match with their best quarter of football.

The loss sees Werribee fall to 2-4 on the season while remaining winless at Avalon Airport Oval from three outings this season.

FINAL SCORE
Werribee: 1.1 2.1 2.2 4.8 (32)
Sydney: 6.2 12.3 14.5 16.6 (102)

GOALS
Werribee: O. Hanrahan, M. Keast, S. Mannagh, S. Paea.
Sydney: J. Amartey 4, C. Sinclair 3, H. Morrison, J. Bell, T. Hickey, L. McAndrew, M Roberts, F. Rogers, L. Taylor, C. Warner, S. Wicks.

BEST
Werribee: S. Mannagh, T. Gribble, B. Malual, N. Cooper, O. Hanrahan, M. Sodomaco.
Sydney:

HOW IT HAPPENED
For the third week in a row Werribee was the first team to score but a single behind was all the Big W would register for the first 25 minutes of the match as Sydney took control of the game from the eight-minute mark, kicking six goals from eight scoring shots to open up a 31-point advantage. Young tall Sam Paea finally got Werribee on the board converting his first opportunity from a set shot but the quarter ended with Sydney’s sixth major of the game.

Werribee fell further behind early in the second as Sydney extended their lead with a pair of goals in opening seven minutes before first gamer Matt Keast provided a response for Werribee with his first goal at VFL level, with second gamer Lochie Smart also involved in the build-up. However, the Keast goal would be Werribee’s only score of the quarter with the margin 62 points at the main break after Sydney kicked four straight goals to finish the half.

Having struggled to get anything going in the first two quarters while overusing the football by hand Werribee changed its style of play in the third term and would enjoy more possession than Sydney. Kicking against a strong breeze the Big W didn't make the most of their forward 50 entries however, at the other end of the ground the defence stepped up with Nathan Cooper and Hudson Garoni - who had moved back to counter Sydney’s height – holding firm, the Swans would only add two goals.

Werribee again had an even share of possession in the last quarter and after missing a couple of early shots on goal finally got some reward on the scoreboard courtesy of an Ollie Hanrahan major before Shaun Mannagh added a second goal with five minutes to go. While the final margin was 70 points their were positives for Werribee in the second half which saw them only marginally outscored 4.3 to 2.7.

KEY PLAYERS
Tom Gribble: 30 disposals (21 contested possessions), 8 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s, 5 tackles.
Bior Malual: 23 disposals at 83% efficiency, 11 handball receives, 9 marks, 4 tackles.
Shaun Mannagh: 21 disposals, 10 tackles, 5 clearances, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal.
Michael Sodomaco: 21 disposals (14 kicks), 14 handball receives, 3 inside 50s, 3 tackles.
Hudson Garoni: 17 disposals, 4 marks (2 contested), 8 intercept possessions, 3 rebound 50s, 3 clearances.
Ollie Hanrahan: 16 disposals, 10 handball receives, 3 clearances, 4 score involvements, 1 goal.
Nathan Cooper: 12 disposals, 10 intercept possessions, 4 tackles, 3 rebound 50s.

VIEW MATCH GALLERY


NEXT MATCH
Round 9
Werribee vs GWS
Sunday May 22, 10.05am
Giants Stadium, Sydney

Top Victorian mid-season draft prospects and many future stars of the men’s game will line up in the Colgate Young Guns v Victoria Metro U18 match at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday following the Smithy’s VFL game between Werribee and Sydney.

The Colgate Young Guns team has been selected by AFL recruiters as they look to bolster their lists in the 2022 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft, which will be held on Wednesday 1 June.

The Colgate Young Guns features the state’s brightest 19-year-old prospects, most of whom are competing as top-age players in the 2022 NAB League Boys season. 

All players selected in the Young Guns squad are eligible for next month’s AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

The match will serve a separate purpose for the Victoria Metro U18 team, where players will be pushing their case for selection in the squad that will compete in the NAB AFL U18 National Championships.

It is the first in a two-game series for the Colgate Young Guns, who will also take on Victoria Country U18 on Sunday 15 May.

Saturday’s match between the Colgate Young Guns and Victoria Metro U18 will commence at 4:30pm.