Every great football club has a team working behind the scenes to ensure players are able to perform at their best. Joseph Turmine caught up with (pictured left to right) Rylie Padjen, Scott Graham, Luke Gallaher, Luke Rostenstengel and Jmara Hockley-Samon to find out about their roles and how they help Werribee succeed on the field.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and the same can be said when it comes to running a football club. Every club in Australia has a strong group of individuals working hard behind the scenes to ensure the 22 players that run out onto the ground each week are in top notch condition and ready to perform at their very best. 

Whilst coaches might be in charge of game plans and strategy, arguably one of the most important off field roles at a football club is that of the High Performance Manager.

Scott Graham has been with Werribee since 2019 and is in charge of ensuring the physical condition of players is as good as possible. On match days Graham oversees a vast team in charge of anything and everything that falls under the High Performance banner and thanks to the quality of his team, his role is not too complicated.

“Ultimately my role is incredibly simple, involving structuring the pre-game and halftime schedules, for example, when team meetings occur and warm-ups start," he says. 

"I also conduct the pre-game and halftime warm-ups.  During the game I simply monitor what staff and players want and need to be doing and ensure that plans - such as for players on modified minutes - are being followed through.”

Throughout the week, his role becomes a lot more complex.

“When physically at training I lead medical meetings with my medical staff where we discuss injured or modified players, for example, who needs to get scans or what is rehab ‘Player X’ doing tonight.  After the meeting I typically conduct the warm-up with the assistance of our strength and conditioning intern team.”

And then when training is underway it gets even busier for Graham.

“I check in with our GPS analyst to see if our soft tissue injury prone players have achieved x number of relative high-speed efforts, then I’ll get those identified players to perform x number of sprints based on how many we need. 

"For the rest of the session I simply monitor the training time of each drill and inform coaches when time is up, whilst checking in with any modified and restricted players throughout the session.  

"Outside of specific training time it is seemingly endless conversations with staff - such as nutrition, medical, strength and conditioning and rehab, players and coaches - about what we can do better, what is working and what isn’t.”

Making sure the players are fully fuelled is the job of Head Nutritionist Rylie Padjen, who has been at Werribee for three years. A key part of this is ensuring players are fed and hydrated in order to reach peak performance, both during the game and across the week.

“The nutrition team and I will weigh the players in to determine their pre-game weight, that way when we weigh them out at the end of the game we can see how much weight they've lost in sweat," Padjen says.

"This will help us to determine how much fluid they need to drink in order to recover appropriately.  We also set up and provide food and Gatorade to the players before, during, and after the game to make sure they have adequate fuel for the game and recover properly after the game.” 

With an ice hockey background, Padjen enjoys the large community feel that comes with being around a football club.

“I feel really blessed and grateful to have been able to see and become involved in football so I can see the potential of what a sporting club can do and be for the players and everyone involved.  Every time I show up to the club it's like coming home to a huge family of people and I just love it so much.”

When players get injured, Rehabilitation Coach Jmara Hockley-Samon is tasked with guiding players back to full match fitness, which means training nights are a very busy time.

“I’m usually found in the gym, one of the first in and one of the last ones out," she says. 

"I’m available to the players to help run through their gym programs, any rehab exercises before and after training, and more often than not just for a chat.  During training I can be all over the place, whether it’s taking players through running, watching them integrate into training, keeping an eye on the GPS or doing cross training.” 

Come game day Hockley-Samon must ensure players' workloads are strictly monitored, making for a different match experience to others.

“Game days are predominantly planning and executing the rotations throughout the game. 

"Pre-game I chat to the coaches about what they want, then to the players about who they rotate with and when.  Most of the time the plan gets thrown out early in the game, but you roll with the chaos and make it work. 

"I can get so ‘in the zone’ and only focus on what’s happening with the players on the bench and who’s coming off, that I miss what’s happening in the game.  Sometimes I look up at the scoreboard and think, when did that happen?”

Luke Gallaher came on board as a Development Coach for the start of the 2021 season and has been impressed by the inviting nature of the club.

During the week he liaises with the community clubs of the playing group on team selection, does admin work to support the match committee and assists the running of training. 

Come game day he is a crucial part of the communication process between coaches and players as team runner, delivering messages from Mick Barlow and his assistants to the troops on the field.

It’s one thing looking after the players already at the club, but who helps attract new players to pull on the Big W?

Recruiter Luke Rosenstengel has been at Werribee since the beginning of the ill-fated 2020 season, and is charged with working with the broader recruiting team to compile the playing list for the upcoming season, which includes keeping an eye on all levels of football for potential recruits.

However, during the season his role looks slightly different.

“During the season I assist Jake Morrell with Opposition Analysis in the lead up to each game," Rosenstengel says. 

"I also help out with our GPS program at training.  On game day my role includes setting up the I.T. side of things in the coaches box, monitoring live stats that are fed to us by Champion Data and communicating them to the coaches and monitoring team defence rankings.”

Next game day be sure to keep an eye out for the team behind the team helping the Werribee boys achieve success.

By Joseph Turmine

Most days Nathan Cooper can be found scaling some of Melbourne’s biggest buildings, on weekends he’s a key part of one of the best defensive units in the VFL.   

Hanging from skyscrapers cleaning windows is a job he started in Sydney in 2016 while studying civil engineering and project management. In fact, he was several stories up the very first time he and coach Michael Barlow spoke. 

At that moment Barlow knew little about Cooper who had been recruited by Choco Williams. And he probably wasn’t the only one, Cooper a New South Welshman, grew up playing rugby and initially lined up as a forward when he switched codes as a teenager. 

But it’s as a defender that Cooper has come into his own, and if people didn’t know much about him a few months ago, they likely do now after his performances through rounds 1-6. 

Cooper is in his first season at Werribee and first at VFL level after 2020 was lost to COVID. 

It’s been a winding road back to state league football for the 23-year-old who grew up in Sydney and played four seasons in the NEAFL, the first two with the Swans Reserves having come through their academy, before spending a further two years with Sydney University. 

There was also a season playing in country Victoria for Wangaratta Rovers in the Ovens and Murray league under former Swan Darryn Cresswell, which was the catalyst for a move to Melbourne a year and a half ago. 

Cooper initially signed with Richmond VFL, but when last season was cancelled without a match being played, he cut ties with the Tigers and made his way to Avalon Airport Oval. 

The switch came at the recommendation of former Werribee players Ryan Hebron who was a teammate of Cooper in Sydney and Alex Marklew who he played with in Wangaratta. 

After the first month and a half of the season Cooper could be considered Werribee’s recruit of the year, earning high praise from coach Mick Barlow.

“Nathan is a player that’s come to our club for more consistent VFL opportunities which he’s gained through a really good preseason,” Barlow said.  He was here when I arrived but what Choco (Williams) saw in him was a hard-nosed key defender that could add to what we already had with (Nick) Coughlan and (Max) Spencer.

“Accountability to role is a real strength of his and competing one-one-one where he is able to win or half contests and follow up at ground level where he’s very agile and nimble.  He is rarely beaten which we saw across the preseason and then into our first few games.”

To date Cooper has lined-up on the opposition’s most dangerous forward each week and is a big reason why Werribee is only conceding a messily 50.5 points per game. 

He was brilliant matching up on taller opponents in Collingwood’s Mason Cox and Richmond’s Callum Coleman-Jones in rounds one and three and just as good on Williamstown’s Nick Rodda in round two. 

Cooper featured in Werribee’s best players in the each of the first three games before putting in more strong showings at Box Hill and against the Northern Bullants.  He said his early form has come on the back of a big preseason.

“I felt I had a really strong preseason, I put on 7kgs from mid-January to about round one and got my body right which has helped in my role locking down the big forwards,” he said.  I’m a lot more mature playing state footy this time round and just more physically prepared for it.

“It has also helped coming into an environment at the club where the backs have really gelled from the first practice match.  I’ve been really comfortable in the back six, we’ve been able to play some pretty good footy down there and even from round one to now, that connection has been really good.”

At 195cm and 95kg Cooper’s physique is comparable to key defenders at AFL level. 

“He’s aspirational and wants to go to the next level and he’s identified what he’s got to do to help get there,” Barlow said.  He’s got to be capable of playing on a guy like Tom Hawkins, or as he has shown for us, the taller skinny guys that have a bit more reach.

“Against those guys he can use his physicality in the contest to mask that height deficiency that he’ll sometimes have.  With ball in hand he’s improved a bucket load, we don’t want him to be something he’s not with the ball, but at the moment he makes really good and sound decisions.”

With 11 games left in the home and away season Cooper plans to continue to be Werribee’s rock on the last line, doing his job without any real fuss, just like he does outside of footy. 

“I’m just trying to really enjoy my footy, play my role for the team each week and hopefully win a flag at the end of it,” he said.

The latest lockdown means no game for Werribee this weekend. 

We received the statement below from the AFL in relation to VFL games this weekend. Our scheduled game tomorrow against Sandringham at Avalon Airport Oval won't go ahead but we are hopeful that our clash with Footscray at Victoria University Oval next Sunday can proceed. Stay safe and watch our social media for updates. 

AFL Statement

The AFL has today advised all VFL and VFLW Clubs that this weekend’s scheduled matches will not proceed as planned as a result of the Circuit Breaker Lockdown announced by the Victorian State Government this morning.
 
Outdoor physical recreation and sport will be closed across Victoria during the seven-day lockdown period which starts today at 11.59pm AEST and affects all VFL and VFLW matches scheduled for this weekend involving Victorian clubs.
 
The community sport restrictions apply to the VFL and VFLW competitions. 
 
All VFL and VFLW matches scheduled to be played in Victoria and involving Victorian clubs this weekend have been postponed. This commences with the VFL Round 7 match between Frankston and Richmond originally scheduled for tonight at 7.10pm at SkyBus Stadium.
 
The matches between the Brisbane Lions and GWS GIANTS at Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex in Brisbane and Gold Coast SUNS and Aspley at Metricon Stadium in Gold Coast will not proceed as scheduled.
 
The Northern Bullants will not travel to Queensland and Carlton will not travel to New South Wales to play their matches. 
 
Alternative arrangements will be made for all six interstate clubs for this weekend. No clubs will play for VFL premiership points this weekend.
 
The AFL has prepared for this situation and the inclusion of three allocated byes for all VFL clubs provides flexibility with the fixture. 
 
The VFLW home and away season has two games remaining before a scheduled bye and the AFL will work through a revised fixture for all clubs.
 
Restrictions are enforced until 11.59pm Thursday June 3, 2021 with no VFL or VFLW training to occur before this time.
 
The AFL will continue to take the advice of governments and health officials as it works through fixturing alternatives for the VFL and VFLW to ensure matches are played, however, acknowledges the situation is fluid and any decision made may change.
 
The AFL will continue to meet with all parties and review this decision based on the changing circumstances and advice from government and relevant health departments and medical experts. We will communicate any updates and provide advice in a timely manner.
 
We acknowledge this remains a complicated and rapidly evolving situation but as a football industry we will band together to support each other. This is a reminder that we are all part of a broader society with a responsibility to make sure our community remains safe. 
 
This is what all clubs, players, officials and families will continue to do.
 
The AFL would like to acknowledge the support of all industry stakeholders and the legion of fans and supporters for their patience during this time.

Sixteen Werribee-listed players turned out at club level last weekend with more than half among the best players for their clubs.

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Four Werribee players helped Geelong West to a nail-bitting three-point win over Leopold in round six, with the victory moving the Giants to fifth on the ladder. Emmanuel Ajang was best-on-ground with 28 possessions and two goals including the match sealer. The 19-year-old was clean and effective with his disposal while providing excellent run and carry. 

Phillip Moi Moi also featured in the best players for the Giants splitting his time between midfield and forward where he was lively and his pressure elite. Lachie Taylor was solid across the four quarters in the win while Tylar Watts produced some strong ruckwork throughout the match.

Max Augerinos and Jay Dahlhaus were involved in a draw for St Mary’s against Newtown & Chilwell on Sunday after the Saints took a two-goal advantage into the last quarter. Augerinos was busy gathering 28 touches and did some solid work around the stoppages while Dahlhaus had 20 possessions and brought some good forward pressure.

Luke Davis produced another strong performance for South Barwon being named second best in a 103-point victory over Lara. Davis set up the Swans from defence and was a part of nine score involvements.

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Conor Thar and Dan Nielson both played starring roles (named 1st & 2nd best) as Werribee and Districts enjoyed their fifth win of the season with a nine-goal triumph over Sunshine. 

Thar continued his red-hot form collecting 30 disposals and five tackles. He also kicked three goals and now has eight majors in the past four weeks. Nielson led the way with four goals and was a handful for the opposition defence presenting well and taking six marks inside 50. The 194cm utility’s second efforts and ability to absorb tackles were also a feature.

James Edmonds was best-on-ground as Yarraville Seddon suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Spotswood. Edmonds worked tirelessly to be one of the leading possession getters on the ground.

Archi Manton was the most effective forward for the Eagles with three goals and 20 disposals while Liam Fitz Holt played in several different positions and contributed a goal in the 89-point loss.

BALLARAT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Ryan Pendlebury was Melton South’s second best in a 67-point loss to Lake Wendouree. The 28-year-old found plenty of footy, was proactive at the stoppages and hit the scoreboard, kicking two of the Panthers' seven goals.

Matt Brett featured in the best players as his Darley side lost their fifth straight, going down to Sebastopol by 44 points. Brett provided some strong intercept marking and run and carry.

VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Edyn Sibbald’s St Bernards fell victim to top of the table St Kevins by 33-point in round seven. Sibbald was prominent in the air playing in multiple positions.

Darcy Bennett was a key contributor in Fitzroy’s thrilling come from behind, three-point win over St Bedes / Mentone Tigers in Premier B. The 202cm bigman’s ruckwork and follow-up efforts around the contest were influential in helping Roys record their second win of the season.