Tara Murray
Werribee chief executive Mark Penaluna couldn’t have been prouder of the club for its efforts to make it through to the Victorian Football League grand final.
Skipper Nick Coughlan paid tribute to the guys that got them to the spot in the first place. Norm Goss Medallist Shaun Mannagh was quickly looking to next year.
It was a sombre mood following Sunday’s grand final loss to the Gold Coast Suns, but there was a hint of proudness among the group.
Penaluna has been involved in Werribee for 20 years, he’s seen a lot of people come and go and seen a lot of highs and lows.
“I’ve been involved in football for 53 years, and I couldn’t be more prouder of what these guys,” he said.
“What they are up against, to play a side that is obviously an AFL club,19 listed players, absolutely outstanding.
“To win 18 games out of 21… The amazing maturity, leadership and respect for one another and the club more generally.
“It’s absolutely outstanding whatever happens whether in football or in life they’re going to be successful.”
Penaluna said it didn’t take long for him to realise that they had something special brewing this season.
He said he saw the signs in round one, despite the side not getting the win.
He said the group just had the willingness to work together and the want to win, which was on show in the grand final.
“They gave everything week in, week out,” he said. “Team oriented. It’s a real credit to the coaching staff, the players were united right behind each other, more generally the club.
“It was just patches of the game, we let them slip away. We had dominance in the second quarter, eight points up could have easily kicked another two or three, who knows what would have happened, credit to Gold Coast
“Our boys kept fighting right to the end, very humble to be associated with them.”
Penaluna said the support from the community had been massive and it had helped them get over the line in two home finals.
He highlighted it was only their fifth year as a standalone side in the current competition, after the alignment with North Melbourne ended.
He said it hopefully holds them in good stead for the future.
Coughlan and Mannagh were also quick to say they would aim to be back on the same stage in 12 months time.
“Throughout the year there was a bit of commentary about the standalone clubs and I just want to list through a couple of the guys that made this club go,” Coughlan said on stage after the game.
“Michael Sodamaco, Tom Gribble. Matt Hanson, Louis Pinnick, Dom Brew, Josh Porter. To our board Martin Carter, Mark Penaluna.
“John Lamont and Mark Williams getting this crew together. It’s been a long eight years it’s been building, we got to this point and we just missed.
“To Mick Barlow and all of our staff, volunteers, the 23 boys that played today and the 20 that didn’t, boys I’m fricking proud.
“I love every single one of yas. It’s easy to say that we’ll be back here, but I’m sure we’ll give it a shake next year.”
Mannagh, who could quite easily find himself on an AFL list after his performances this season, “To Werribee and all the supporters, unavailable ah. I’m so proud to represent this club and thanks to everyone.
“Let’s go again next year.”
