Werribee has bid farewell to Community Manager Brooke Lochland who has signed to play with the Sydney Swans in their inaugural AFLW season.  

Lochland joined Werribee in April heading up the club’s community program and football development initiatives.  

As an AFLW player Lochland spent the first six years of her career with the Western Bulldogs and will relocate to Sydney in time for the start of preseason training.   

She will also take on the role of Female Academy Coach and Player Welfare Coordinator for the Swans.   

Lochland said she was sad to be leaving her position with Werribee so soon.  

“I want to thank Werribee for taking me on in the role of Community Manager, a position that allowed me to learn and grow as a person,” she said. 

“Although it was only a short time, I have loved my time here, this is a great club with amazing hard-working people and staff who want to make this the best club possible, a club that values community and an environment that welcomes people from all walks of life.” 

“I wish the club all the best and am grateful for the people I have met in my time here.”  

Werribee Football Club CEO Mark Penaluna said Lochland departs with the club’s blessing.   

“We understand Brooke’s decision to continue her AFLW career with the Sydney Swans and wish her all the best in the future,” he said.  

“In her time with the club Brooke set the wheels in motion on several new projects and we look forward to these progressing even further with our next Community Manager.” 

Brooke was instrumental in introducing the club’s first Indigenous-themed round to be held at Avalon Airport Oval on July 2, along with initial planning to establish a female football academy.  

After a nine day break for Werribee the Big W and Richmond will kick off Round 12 when they meet at Punt Road Oval next Wednesday night. 

Having improved to 4-4 on the year with back-to-back wins, Werribee will take a good amount of confidence into the midweek clash. Werribee were also big winners against Richmond last season.

Richmond (5-4) have lost two of their past three and sit just a couple of positions above Werribee having played an extra game through 10 rounds. 

The same 23 that took on Collingwood in Round 10 are set to face Richmond as Werribee goes into a match unchanged for the first time this season. See the full team below.

Tickets for the match are now on sale. With no on-the-gate sales all tickets need to be pre-purchased. If you buy tickets on the night you will need to do so via your own mobile device.

Werribee Members can access discounted tickets using the password: WerribeeRound12.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Entry will be available through Gate 1 (next to the Roar Store on Brunton Ave) from 7pm.

ROUND 12
Werribee vs Richmond
Wednesday June 8, 7:35pm
Punt Road Oval, Richmond
WATCH LIVE

Several players continue to push their case for VFL selection with strong displays at local level. See who all the top performers were and who enjoyed wins with their communty clubs last weekend.  

ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Sam Paea – Aberfeldie

Bagged four goals in a 67-point triumph over Greenvale to help the Abers to their seventh win of 2022 to remain tied for first with Keilor. Out worked his opponent to pull down nine marks.

Lucas Rocci – Aberfeldie

Also prominent in attack kicking three goals from 12 disposals. Competed hard despite copping close attention for much of the day and was unlucky not be rewarded more.

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Marty Brennan – Grovedale

Kicked a goal and was among the best players in Grovedale’s 20-point loss to Newtown & Chilwell.

Flynn Young – Grovedale

Once again one of the main avenues to goal for the Tigers booting three majors in defeat to the Eagles.  

Logan Wagener – Leopold

A strong showing playing inside mid in a 59-point win over Lara. Read the ball well off hands and surged from stoppages. Brought others into the game with 18 handballs among his 26 disposals.

Sam Witherden – North Shore

In the best for the Seagulls for the third week in a row. Was best on ground on this occasion providing plenty of drive through the middle in a heavy defeat to Colac.

Joe Maishman – St Mary’s

Started hot in the Round 8 clash with Geelong West but slowed as the match went on as the Saints notched their eight straight win with a 43-point triumph.

Noah Gribble – Geelong West

Among the top disposal getters with 29 possessions in the Giants’ loss to St Mary’s. A good return with a high work rate after battling the flu last week.

Emmanuel Ajang – Geelong West

His best game for the season with 26 disposals, eight tackles and two goals helping to earn him best on ground honours for the Giants.

Toby Mahoney – Bell Park

In the best as the Dragons upset St Joseph’s by 17 points. Moved into the midfield rotation from his usually role on the wing and was good at the stoppages. Had encouraging disposal numbers and eight tackles.

OVENS AND MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Tom Boyd – O&M Interleague team (Local Player of the Week)

Kicked three first half goals to help set up a 55-point win for the Ovens and Murray over rivals the Goulburn Valley FL. Finished the match with 12 disposals and six marks.

Daniel Sharrock – O&M Interleague team

A consistent contributor in the O&M’s dominant performance to retain the Ash-Wilson trophy.

VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Aidan Johnson – Old Brighton

Huge in Old Brighton’s top of the table clash with St Kevin’s. Had 17 disposals, 10 clearances, 28 hit-outs, nine tackles and a goal as the Grammarian’s moved to first on the ladder with a three-point win.  

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Akol Deng – Yarraville Seddon

Not as dominant in the ruck this week but improved around the ground as the game went on. Finished with 14 disposals and 17 hit-outs in a narrow two-point loss to St Albans.

Saad El-Hawli - Altona

Found plenty of football in Altona’s 40-point triumph over Deer Park accumulating 33 disposals and eight marks in the Vikings’ seventh win of the season.

Spencer Johnson – Altona

Just as busy as his Werribee teammate in the Vikings’ victory over the Lions tallying 27 possessions and seven marks with a disposal efficiency of 85%.

Harrison White – Werribee Districts

Kicked multiple goals yet again with two and was named second best after gathering 21 disposals and seven clearances in a comfortable win over Sunshine.  

BENDIGO FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Brady Rowles - Eaglehawk

Continues to build form and was among the best players for the Two Blues with 19 disposals and his best four quarter display of the year in a 21-point loss to Kyneton.

EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Tom McCaffrey – Balwyn

Led the way with another three goals in a low scoring 10-point victory over Vermont. Finished with 18 possessions and seven inside 50s as the Tigers moved passed the Eagles into second.

RIDDELL DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Ariek Lual – Melton Centrals

Impressed as the team’s solo ruck in their 14-point victory over Lancefield to help the Blues to their second win of the season. Was named among the best players.

Local player fixture for Saturday, June 4

Bell Park v St Marys at Bell Park – 2.10pm
Toby Mahony (Bell Park)
Darcy Chirgwin (St Marys)
Joe Maishman (St Marys)

Geelong West v North Shore at Geelong West – 2.10pm
Sam Witherden (North Shore)
Emmanuel Ajang (Geelong West)
Noah Gribble (Geelong West)

Leopold v St Joseph's at Leopold – 2.10pm
Logan Wagener (Leopold)
Finn McCombe (St Joseph's)

St Albans v Grovedale at St Albans – 2.10pm
Marty Brennan (Grovedale)
Flynn Young (Grovedale)

Altona v Yarraville at Yarraville – 2.30pm
Saad El-Hawli (Altona)
Spencer Johnson (Altona)
Akol Deng (Yarraville-Seddon)

Werribee Districts v St Albans at Werribee Districts – 2.15pm
Harrison White (Werribee Districts)
Cooper Pepi (St Albans)

Point Cook v Sunshine at Point Cook – 2.15pm
Ethan Jackson (Sunshine)

Wangaratta v Lavington at Wangaratta – 2.00pm
Daniel Sharrock (Wangaratta)
Jack Driscoll (Lavington)

North Albury v Wangaratta Rovers at North Albury – 2.00pm
Tom Boyd (Wangaratta Rovers)
Dom Brew (North Albury)

Old Melburnians v Old Brighton at Old Melburnians – 2.00pm
Aidan Johnson (Old Brighton)

Riddell v Melton Centrals at Riddell – 2.00pm
Ariek Lual (Melton Centrals)

Castlemaine v Eaglehawk at Castlemaine – 2.20pm
Brady Rowles (Eaglehawk)

Koroit v Portland at Koroit – 2.00pm
Tex Korewha (Koroit)

Werribee has its first win at home in 2022 after defeating Collingwood by 55 points in its Round 10 clash at Avalon Airport Oval.

The Big W won every quarter and claimed a big scalp in beating the Magpies who started the match near the top of the VFL ladder after winning six of their first seven. 

Werribee bettered its first quarter performance from a week ago opening the match with six-goal first term and finished the game by holding Collingwood to a single behind in the fourth quarter.  

Hudson Garoni starred up forward for Werribee bagging five goals while Bior Malual, Kye Declase and Jack Henderson were all brilliant across four quarters.

FINAL SCORE
Werribee: 6.4 10.4 13.8 16.13 (109)
Collingwood: 3.3 6.4 8.5 8.6 (54)

GOALS
Werribee: H. Garoni 5, S. Mannagh 2, J. Dahlhaus 2, H. Stubbings 2, O. Hanrahan, N. Hayes, S. Clohesy, J. Porter, M. Hanson.
Collingwood: S. Folwer 3, R. McInnes 2, H. Harrison, C. Wellings, M. Wetering.

BEST
Werribee: H. Garoni, B. Malual, K. Declase, J. Henderson, S. Conway, S. Mannagh.
Collingwood:

HOW IT HAPPENED

Josh Porter had Werribee on the board inside the opening two minutes but Collingwood would soon take the lead with a couple of quick majors. Harry Stubbings, playing his first game of the season, provided Werribee’s second goal 11 minutes in and another three soon followed with Shaun Mannagh booting two either side of Jay Dahlhaus’ first. Mannagh’s second gave Werribee a 17-point lead after 19 minutes before Hudson Garoni goaled late to give the Big W a 19-point buffer at the first change. 

Ollie Hanrahan gave Werribee another early goal to start the second term and when Garoni kicked his second six minutes later the home team’s advantage had been stretched to 28 points. However, Collingwood came hard over the next 16 minutes but with Kye Declase doing a brilliant job supporting the defence the Magpies would only register a pair of goals through Sam Fowler. Werribee hit back with Sam Clohesy and Dahlhaus added back-to-back goals to see the hosts up by 24 points at halftime.  

After three behinds in the first five minutes of the third quarter midfielder Matt Hanson, who had played a big part in the Big W's first half dominance, delivered Werribee’s first goal eight minutes in to the term. Garoni slotted his third halfway through the quarter but the Magpies responded on that occasion and then again after Stubbings converted his second. With the margin going in to the last at 33 points Werribee looked likely to secure its first home win of the season.  

The Big W controlled the final quarter enjoying 58% time in possession - the highest mark of the match. They added another three goals while  holding Collingwood to a single behind to round out a brilliant four quarter performance. Garoni kicked Werribee’s first of the quarter and his fourth a minute and a half in before Nick Hayes all but confirmed Werribe’s fourth win of the campaign eight minutes in. Garoni fifth came at the 18-minute mark with the Magpies’ only score coming two minutes later. 

VIEW MATCH GALLERY

WATCH REPLAY & HIGHLIGHTS

KEY PLAYERS
Tom Gribble: 28 disposals (16 kicks), 13 handball receives, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s,  7 score involvements
Jack Henderson: 26 disposals (12 contested possesions), 7 marks, 3 inside 50s, 10 score involvments  
Kye Declase: 26 disposals (21 kicks), 11 marks, 5 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s, 7 score involvements
Matt Hanson: 24 disposals (11 contested possessions), 5 marks, 5 clearances, 4 rebound 50s, 8 score involvements, 1 goal
Bior Malual: 23 disposals (19 kicks) at 91% efficiency, 11 marks (2 contested), 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 7 score involvements
Nathan Cooper: 15 disposals (14 kicks), 7 marks, 8 intercept possesions, 4 rebound 50s, 2 tackles 
Sam Conway: 14 disposals at 93% efficiency, 30 hit-outs, 9 clearances, 4 tackles 
Hudson Garoni: 11 disposals (10 kicks), 7 marks (5 contested), 2 tackles, 6 score involvements, 5 goals

NEXT MATCH
Round 12
Werribee vs Richmond 
Wednesday June 8, 7:35pm
Swinburne Centre, Richmond