Harper Sercombe
Dom Brew has won his first Werribee best and fairest award taking out the 2023 Bruce Montgomery Trophy on Thursday night after a career best Victorian Football League season.
He polled 233 votes to finish 14 clear of runner-up Shaun Mannagh on 219 votes with two-time Bruce Montgomery Trophy winner Tom Gribble third with 214 votes.
The hard-nosed midfielder expanded his offensive game this season while still negating the opposition’s best on baller.
Brew, 26, played all 21 games and averaged a career-best 25 disposals per outing while leading the team in contested possessions (14.7), clearances (7.6) and tackles (9.9).
However, despite averaging these incredible numbers, winning the award was not something Brew was expecting.
“I was a bit taken aback, to be honest considering the calibre of players we have at the club and in and around the midfield,” he said.
“I’m pretty proud, and to play for the Werribee Football Club is something I’m eternally grateful for.
“I’m still in a bit of shock. It hasn’t sunk in just yet, because it’s a VFL best and fairest, I never thought that I’d achieve that.”
While he wasn’t expecting the award, Brew said it was reward for a lot of hard effort he has put in, particarty throughout the off season.
“I personally worked really hard and lost three to four kilos,” he said.
“I maintained that throughout the whole year, it was just extra sessions, there’s no secret, I just worked really hard.”
While Werribee were able to achieve an extraordinary feat of 17 wins in a row, unfortunately a grand final loss to Gold Coast was where it ended, leaving a sour taste in the mouth of what was a sweet season.
“To get success with the team as well along the way and to win 17 in a row, is just unbelievable.
“To fall short hurts a lot but we’ve had a few days to reflect now, and to do what we did this year is just unreal.
“It’s very sour but I’ve got life long friends at Werribee and to play and be involved in something that we did this year… to enjoy some success with those lads was just unreal.”
He was also recognised as the trademark player of the year, an award voted on by the 23 selected players each round.
Best and fairest voting is completed by senior coach Michal Barlow and three assistant coaches who award zero to five votes to each player at the end of each game, including finals.
Kye Declase was named the best finals player and Nathan Cooper the defensive player of the year.
Hudson Garoni claimed Werribee’s goal kicking award with a career-best 45 majors, while the ever-reliable Jack Henderson took home the coaches award
Sam Clohesy collected the most improved award after appearing in every game in his second season while finishing the year as one of the club’s most consistent performers.
Fellow young gun Kobe Annand was named the best first year player after a terrific debut season in the ruck.
