Like the playing list at Werribee in 2022 the club’s coaching make-up sees the return of many of the key faces that have been a part of the program in recent seasons.

With Michael Barlow entering year two as senior coach he returns two of his three assistants from a year ago in Nick Daffy and Tom Perrett.

The team’s third assistant James Saker joins VFL coaching ranks for the first time but is familiar with Werribee having played four seasons with the club, two of those alongside Barlow.

Saker comes in as club’s backline and team defence coach which means both Perrett and Daffy will head up new areas of the field this season.

Perrett’s focus shifts from the back half of the ground to the front half taking charge of a young forward group as well as overseeing ball movement.

Daffy turns his attention to the midfield and stoppages working closely with the senior coach.

The four will again be surrounded by three development coaches headed by Hamish MacInnes with Luke Gallaher and Wassim Rafihi resuming their roles from last year.

Additionally, Gallaher and Rafihi will assist Perrett and Saker with their respective positions.

“I’ve said a number of times we are an aspirational group and what really does help with that is consistency around the coaching department,” Barlow said.

“I think everyone brings something different and from my point of view we coach, we teach and we challenge.

“One of my big take-aways or understandings from my first year in the job was to just allow those coaches to take the reins and flourish by utilising their respective skillsets.”

Even with the changes amongst assistant coaches Barlow said everyone is incredibly well suited to their designated position in 2022.

“Sakes just loves defending, we often joke that he wasn’t great with ball in hand but was one of the great players to play with at because of his effort and commitment to defending,” he said.

“His knowledge around, in particular team defence has already advanced us.

“Tom is just so reliable in terms of what he produces and is so consistent in his day-to-day involvement.

“He’s a school teacher by trade which really translates well to him working with a forward line group that is definitely our youngest area on the ground.

“Daff has no problems adjusting his role from forward line coach to the midfield.

“He’s built a really good rapport with our senior players with many of those guys part of the midfield and is tremendous at critically challenging them and finding different avenues for learning for them.

“Our development coaches have a big role to play too, running our development program for our under 22 players of which there are 16 players on the list and a similar number of train-ons.

Also working with the development group will be experienced pair Michael Sodomaco, Tom Gribble and recruit Ollie Hanrahan.

Outgoing captain Sodomaco will share his knowledge mentoring a group of small defenders, with Gribble taking on a similar role with the team’s young midfielders while former Hawthorn player Hanrahan will work wholistically with the under 22 group.

Analysis will be headed up by Luke Rosenstengel and a team of interns who will oversee the collation of keys stats. Meanwhile, David Supek takes on the responsibility of opposition scouting.

The Werribee Football Club has many loyal sponsors that return year after year however, few if any have done so for as long as Kwik Kopy. 

The design and printing experts based in Hoppers Crossing are back as a corporate sponsor in 2022. 

They’ve been supporters of Werribee almost since the day their doors opened in 1992 and were the first of three business that centre owner Chris Kopelke had invested in the club. 

The two others businesses under Chris’s management to be sponsors were The Bridge Hotel from 2004-10 (still a sponsor today under current management) and Caffe Aroma from 2010-14. 

And it isn’t only as a sponsor that Chris has been a part of Werribee with the man known to many as ‘Chopper’ also serving on the board of directors from 2010-2014. 

He said he’s gotten plenty of enjoyment out of his involvement with the club. 

“Seeing the club grow from humble beginnings into a successful, professional unit has been fantastic,” he said. 

“What I also love about being involved with Werribee is the great friendships and associations that have originated through the club and continued over the years.” 

Not only an avid supporter of our club, Chris is well-known in local football circles thanks to his involvement with Werribee Centrals where he played and now holds the role of president.  

Werribee Football Club CEO Mark Penaluna said it was fantastic to have passionate people supporting the club. 

“It really is great having businesses like Kwik Kopy return as sponsors each year,” he said. 

“We’re delighted to have Kwik Kopy back on board in 2022 and are very thankful for the support Chris has given the club over many years.” 

After seven seasons as Werribee captain Michael Sodomaco will hand over the reins in 2022.

Sodomaco informed the playing group of his decision to pass on the role on Monday night and said it was time for the club’s next leader to take the club forward.

“First and foremost, I think it’s the right time for a fresh voice, fresh set of ideas and all those kinds of things,” he said.

“I’ve had the honour of captaining the club for seven years and gave it my best shot.

“It’s a great time for someone new to take on the role, make it their own and hopefully were standing here in a couple of years’ time talking about the amazing success they’ve had.”

Sodomaco took over from Jared Moore ahead of the 2015 season and is now the club’s longest serving captain. He said his tenure has been a rewarding one.  

“It’s been a privilege having the chance to influence the on-field performance for the better, improve the club culture, overall, I think you just aim to leave it in a better place to how you found it,” he said.

“I’m really looking forward to being a Werribee player and sort of taking a bit of that weight off my shoulders and also dipping my toe in the coaching side of things as well.

“I’ll obviously be the same person around the club but I’m looking forward to playing under another captain because I haven’t done it for a long time either.”

As for who the club’s next captain will be, Sodomaco said there are several quality candidates.

“When I made the decision that was at the forefront of my mind, there are a lot of guys that deserve the opportunity, will be here for a number of years and will do the job really well,” he said.

“I’m sure we’ll be in good hands and hopefully by me sticking around and playing this year I can sort of offer some help when they feel they need it and help make it a really smooth transition.”

The Werribee Football Club wishes to advise it will hold its 2021 Annual General Meeting on Monday 28th February at Chirnsides by the River.

The meeting will commence at 6:00pm and is open to all 2021 financial members.

The agenda will cover confirmation of the 2020 AGM minutes, presentation of financial statements for the year ended 31 October 2021, the presentation of the 2021 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 14th 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 Wednesday 19th February at the below address:

WERRIBEE FOOTBALL CLUB
PO BOX 2049
WERRIBEE VIC 3030