Tara Murray
With the core group returning, Werribee is primed for a strong Victorian Football League season.
Kicking off their season next weekend, Werribee has retained all but one of their best 23 from last season, while adding more players with VFL experience.
Coach Michael Barlow, who is heading into his third season as coach, said they had been able to attack pre-season differently than the last couple of years.
“It has been good and the retention of players has been strong,” he said.
“Pre-season we’ve been focusing on our strategy and game style and progressing that.
“With most of the players coming back which is great, we’ve had the ability to fast track those coming in.”
Barlow said they looked to bring in players who were in the right age demographic for the group and players with some VFL experience.
Jack Boyd from Northern Bullants, Bailey Henderson from Richmond, Harry Grintell From Greater Western Sydney and Michael Selsby from Southport.
“They’ve all played at this level before,” Barlow said. “Hopefully we can help foster that development and nurture their improvement in our environment.”
Barlow said while the additions had given the side more depth, so had the development of some of the younger players.
He said many of them had started the same time he had as coach.
“We’ve got that natural improvement in the younger players,” he said. “A good chunk of them have been here for 12 to 24 months.
“Many of them debuted two years ago and have played 15, 20, 25 games. They will only improve as players and they will improve physically.”
Werribee played two practice matches heading into the season, beating Frankston and Geelong.
Barlow said there had been some positive signs, but things they had to work on individually, as a playing group and as a coaching group.
He said one of the key focuses remains closing the gap between their best and worst, which was on show at times in the practice matches.
“The first week against Frankston in really windy conditions, we were consistently hard and tough at the contest, which we pride ourselves on.
“That helped us own the ball in the front half.
“Against Geelong we had a number of things we challenged after the game in the team meeting.
“We have to come out week week out and not rest on what we’ve done, individually or collectively.
“We were a bit slow to get going, but picked up in the second half.”
Werribee kicks off its season up in Brisbane next Saturday against the Brisbane Lions.
Barlow said they would take in a pretty significant game plan against a side that will feature AFL players,
“Hopefully we’ll get the result.”
