When Dom Brew arrived at Werribee, it was senior coach John Lamont who set him on the right path from the get go.
Brew admits he needed a bit of straightening out with his attitude, some guidance off the field and more refinement to his game, but Lamont was willing to spend time with him to ensure he got the best out of himself and made the most of his time at Werribee.
“Coming down from Albury and having a bit of an ego, Johnny just told me where I was at and I really appreciated that,” Brew said. “He’s also helped me a lot with other personal issues I’ve gone through since moving down here.
“Outside of that, he’s always there for a chat.
“I’ve got nothing but the utmost respect for John.”
When Brew heard of Lamont’s decision to leave his coaching post, it was a disappointing day for him. It did, however, allow him to reflect on what they had achieved in a coach-player relationship.
Brew’s game has continued to evolve and he is now established in the Werribee onball unit. That has a lot to do with the time that Lamont and the rest of his coaches and teammates spent teaching him about the finer details of the game.
“Johnny’s been massive for me,” Brew said. “He’s backed me to the hilt.
“As a footballer and as a bloke, he’s improved me 10-fold and I can’t thank him enough for it. To send him off with a win was great.”
Saturday’s win over North Melbourne was an emotional experience for Brew, not only because of Lamont’s farewell, but also because close teammates Jake Sharp and Nathan Laracy were calling time on their VFL careers.
Brew credits the pair for their impact on him when he first started with the club in 2016.
“They both helped me make the transition,” Brew said.
“Both of those boys are a big part of the club who will be sorely missed next year.”
It is the personalities of people such as Lamont, Sharp and Laracy that make Werribee a special place to be for Brew.
“I love the club, I really do,” Brew said. “It’s an exciting future we’re going to have down there.”
