The elevation of long-serving Werribee figure Alan Clayton to Legend status capped off a historic night at the club’s 60th Year “Then and Now” Celebration at Club Tarneit.

Clayton became just the 10th Legend in the club’s history, recognised for his service across playing, administration, operations, and volunteer roles that have left a lasting impact.

Clayton was presented the honour by Kevin Leece, the club’s all-time leading goalkicker with 406 goals across 111 games between 1971 and 1981, who delivered a heartfelt and humorous tribute.

“Even I'm getting a bit emotional here,” Leece said. “You've done everything... you’ve done the property steward, and when I was playing footy, not that I was much good at it, I never got any freebies, couldn’t get a sock out of you. Congratulations, I think you’re a champion bloke and you deserve to be a Legend.”

Clayton, who has served the club in a wide range of roles over several decades, was visibly moved as he accepted the honour.

“Very, very honoured. I didn’t expect it, but I’m very humble,” he said. “You look around the room here, the people I’ve worked with for over 40 to 50 years. I was 16, trying to get a game in the Under-19s. I only played seconds, and Bruce Comben said to me at quarter time, ‘You’re in the seniors next week,’ I snapped my hamstring in half, and that was the end of my football career.”

Although his playing career was brief, Clayton has dedicated more than 50 years to the club in a range of roles. After starting in the Under 19s and Reserves, he moved into off-field involvement as a board member and treasurer, and later played a key role in the running of the club’s sports club and bingo centre. He served as tribunal advocate, contributed to the stats team and social committee, and took on the role of property steward. When he and his wife Janet, started their business, Cheeselinks, they became immediate sponsors of the club. To this day, “Hutchie” does not miss a game at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, sponsors midfielder Ray Murphy, and remains actively involved in club fundraising efforts.

In his speech, Clayton made special mention of those who have helped shape his journey.

“I wanna thank my wife, Janet, to just everyone in the room. Mark [Penaluna]... yeah, there’s too many. I’ve made too many good friends,” he said. “I could spend an hour thanking everyone, but the old people that are still around and still part of the club.”

Clayton’s elevation capped off a historic night for the club, which also saw the induction of seven new Hall of Fame members: Chad Ravlich, George Riddiford, Kirk Norton, Jimmy Masterson, Robbie Castello, Ted Goodall and Martin Carter.

Following our recent 2024 VFL Premiership success, the Werribee Football Club is excited to announce that our full suite of membership packages are now available for 2025.

2024 will forever be remembered for the drought-breaking Premiership, and in 2025... WE’RE GOING AGAIN. ARE YOU?

Sign up as a member for 2025 via this link.

The Werribee Football Club is pleased to announce Ian Hovey as the latest Life Member.

The surprise announcement was made at Saturday's Presidents function before the historic VFL & VFLW double header against Geelong. Hovey received the honour from Club President and recent Hall of Fame inductee Martin Carter, who worked closely with Ian during his time as Vice President.

Speaking on Hovey’s recognition, Carter said, “Ian’s life membership will go down as one of the most deserved club awards in Werribee’s 60-year history. Ian’s contribution from his playing days through to his positions on the Board, to his most recent voluntary roles of memorabilia manager, and club historian, are true testament to his patience, his attention to detail and his willingness to give back to our club. Without fear of contradiction, Ian is a man of humility and utmost integrity, respected by everyone at the club, a kind and supportive person, who continues to live and demonstrate our values of Community, Driven, and Care with aplomb.”

Hovey’s connection with Werribee started in the mid-1970s as a player in the 1976 season, becoming Werribee player #191.

Ian’s impact has extended far beyond his playing days, returning to the club in the 2010’s in an off-field capacity. Ian spent more than a decade on the Board of Directors from 2013 including eight years as Vice President. Ian also took on the responsibility for managing, collating and documenting the history of the club, a role he maintains today.

In overseeing the club’s historical records, Hovey led the project to assign a unique player number to everyone who has represented Werribee at senior level. With nearly 1000 players and limited documentation from the club’s early decades, it was an enormous undertaking. Ian and his team spent countless hours searching a variety of archives and historical records. The fruits of their hard work were released in 2023. Every senior Werribee player now has a unique player number and a lasting place in the club’s history.

Ian has also been heavily involved in the planning and presentations for the 60th anniversary Then and Now Event being held this weekend at Club Tarneit.

Following our recent 2024 VFL Premiership success, the Werribee Football Club is excited to announce that our full suite of membership packages are now available for 2025.

2024 will forever be remembered for the drought-breaking Premiership, and in 2025... WE’RE GOING AGAIN. ARE YOU?

Sign up as a member for 2025 via this link.

North Melbourne Werribee has made two changes for its Round 8 match against Geelong.

The top-of-the-table Kangaroos travel down the highway on Saturday for their first home match at their second home of Avalon Airport Oval this season.

It is a historic day for the club with the first ever VFL and VFLW home double header at home featuring our new women’s side.

Midfielder Taylor Ortlepp rejoins the team after being away for a fortnight.

Jemmika Douglas also comes back in after being omitted for the Round 7 win over Port Melbourne.

Reese Sutton is unavailable this week, while livewire forward Kelsie Ternes is sidelined after receiving a concussion in the game against Port Melbourne.

The Kangaroos will be hunting a good result against the 12th-placed Cats, with only two points separating the top five on the VFLW ladder.

MATCH DETAILS - ROUND 8
North Melbourne Werribee vs Geelong
Saturday, June 14, 2:45 pm
Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee

Round 8 Match Centre

Watch live at afl.com.au

Werribee will be looking to bounce back against Geelong at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval for a second consecutive home game, this one starting early at 11.35 am.

Werribee will be aiming to shift the ledger in their favour, currently sitting at five wins and five losses after a disappointing seven goal defeat to North Melbourne last weekend.

Like last week, Werribee will be wearing their 2025 Indigenous guernsey. The jumper was created by John Lambley and his children Kyle, Jy, Giselle, Kain and Mason, proud Wadawurrung people living on Wadawurrung Country. You can read more about the story behind the guernsey via this link.

It is a historic day for the club with the first ever VFL and VFLW home double header featuring our new women’s side. Following the men's game, the North Melbourne Werribee Kangaroos VFLW side will take on Geelong at 2.45 pm.

In the VFLW, North Melbourne Werribee sit on top of the ladder coming into the Round 8 clash. Sitting at five and two, the reigning premiers will face the bottom-placed Cats, who are yet to win a game in 2025.

Saturday’s match will also be a special day in more ways than one, as it is also Past Players and Officials Day. 1993 premiership heroes Ian Wilson and Michael McMaster have recently transformed Away Room #3 at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval into the official Past Players and Officials Room. This dedicated space is filled with more than one hundred photos and memories from all eras of the club.

MATCH DETAILS - ROUND 12
Werribee vs Geelong
Saturday, June 14, 11:35 am
Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee

Round 12 Match Centre

Watch live at afl.com.au

Following our recent 2024 VFL Premiership success, the Werribee Football Club is excited to announce that our full suite of membership packages are now available for 2025.

2024 will forever be remembered for the drought-breaking Premiership, and in 2025... WE’RE GOING AGAIN. ARE YOU?

Sign up as a member for 2025 via this link.